Nawaikula files a constitutional redress proceeding in court regarding Bill 17

SODELPA MP, Niko Nawaikula has filed a constitutional redress proceeding in the High Court regarding the amendment to the iTaukei Land Trust Act or Bill 17.

Nawaikula’s lawyer, Sevuloni Valenitabua says the defendants in the proceeding are the Government, the Attorney General and the iTaukei Land Trust Board.

In the proceeding, Nawaikula is suing the defendants on his own behalf and, in a representative capacity, on behalf of members of his mataqali as owners of iTaukei land.

Nawaikula claims that their respective rights as landowners of iTaukei land were breached when they were not consulted by the Government and the iTLTB before Bill 17 was put before Parliament and later passed as a law for Fiji.

Nawaikula claims that provisions of the 2013 Constitution, the iTaukei Land Trust Act 1940 and the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 169 were breached.

The case will be called before the High Court in Suva on Thursday 30th September.