The National Court has allowed an application by the heads of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate to be joined in a proceeding filed against the Chief Magistrate Nerrie Eliakim.
Justice Collin Makail today allowed Matthew Damaru and Timothy Gitua to be joined in a proceeding that was filed by Geoffrey Vaki in his capacity as the Police Commissioner (then) challenging the validity of the warrant of arrest that was issued by the District Court against Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in June 2014.
He said in his ruling that both cops have an interest in the matter with an undisputed fact that Gitua was instrumental in taking that arrest warrant out against the Prime Minister last year.
And that he is directly affected by the Chief Magistrate’s decision which is the subject of the proceedings.
He said the applicants where earlier allowed joiner in the Supreme Court case involving the legal fee payments to Paul Paraka’s firm that was filed by Finance Minister James Marape.
He added the subject involved the same person (the Prime Minister) and regardless of the mode of proceeding, the subject of joiner is similar to what was already decided on in the Supreme Court.
The decision today comes after current Police Commissioner Gari Baki was added as a party in the proceeding on December 2 by the same court.
This application of joiner was made by Damaru and Gitua’s lawyers, which was opposed by lawyers representing Commissioner Baki, The Prime Minister and the State.