COI Report: Rabuka Under Pressure

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is under mounting pressure to fully implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the controversial appointment of now-terminated FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali.

Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube has called the scandal a “Category 7 man-made cyclone” — one that has shaken public trust and exposed deep concerns about political integrity and corruption.

Mr Narube, the former Reserve Bank of Fiji governor, demanded decisive action from the Prime Minister to uphold accountability and transparency, especially within Cabinet and State institutions that have been implicated by the COI’s findings.

He insisted that the public has a right to the full COI Report, not just selected parts, and called for no protection of anyone implicated, regardless of rank.

“We know cyclone season ended in April, but we’re in the middle of one — a cyclone that I’m calling Cyclone Malimali,” Mr Narube said.

“I rate this cyclone as Category 7 because it is a man-made cyclone. The ball is in the PM’s court to ensure that corrupt practices are uprooted from within his Cabinet and all institutions the COI has implicated.

“The eye of the cyclone has not passed yet. We must remain vigilant until the grounds are fully exposed,” he warned.

He outlined a series of urgent demands, including:

• Full public release of the COI Report;
• Prosecution of those implicated;
• Revival of corruption cases dropped under Malimali;
• Clean-up of corruption in government agencies;
• Strengthening of FICAC and police investigative capabilities;

“We can use this Cyclone Malimali to clean up Fiji,” Mr Narube said.

Termination

Last night Mr Rabuka confirmed the termination of both Ms Malimali and FICAC acting deputy commissioner Lisiate Fotofili.

Last Friday, Mr Rabuka sacked the Attorney-General Graham Leung by exercising the power conferred upon him by Section 92(3)(b) of the 2013 Constitution.

He said the findings in the COI Report into the “appointment of the FICAC Commissioner, has made it evident to me that Mr Leung’s position in my Cabinet is now untenable.

“I ask the people of Fiji to remain patient as we carefully map the implementation of the COI Report. I am committed to the release of the report which is funded by the people of Fiji. However this will be done in a manner to ensure that investigations are not prejudiced, civil rights of accused persons are respected and the rule of law maintained,” Mr Rabuka said.

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