The National Court in Kokopo granted Acting Provincial Administrator Wilson Matava temporary orders yesterday restraining his predecessor Aquila Tubal, his agents and other government agencies from revoking, interfering, questioning Matava's appointment.
Mr Matava was appointed as per the National Gazette Number G343 of 3rd July.
He had sought ex parte orders following his suspension by Tubal even though his appointment had been endorsed by the Provincial Executive Council and placed on the National Gazettal notice, signed by the Governor-General.
Loop PNG understands Matava was to assume the acting Provincial Administrator's post on 25th June but Tubal went on air on NBC Radio ENB to discuss issues pertaining to the provincial administration and announcing the suspension, alleging breaches of the government general orders.
Matava was suspended, allegedly without being given the opportunity to answer to the charges,
The announcement of Matava's suspension took the PEC by surprise, prompting Governor Ereman ToBaining Jnr to release a statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the impasse.
ToBaining Jnr stated that the appointment of Matava was based on advice from the outgoing provincial administrator and as such he called on Tubal to “stop misleading the people’’.
The governor said the PEC, as the highest decision making authority in the province, had acted on a short list sent from the Department of Personnel Management and endorsed the appointment of Matava which was formalised through its gazettal. This had the support of the national government, he added.
ToBaining Jnr said that the PEC was the only authority that could make such decisions and no other body could effect any changes otherwise.
The interim orders are returnable to the court on 15 July for the substantive matter to be heard.