07/03/2026
Minister for Justice Pila Niningi has clarified that Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika was not charged but only referred in a notice by the Ombudsman Commission to the Acting Public Prosecutor.
Niningi confirmed that there is no tribunal set up yet; however, the Constitutional process will take its course, and all the administrative operations and functions shall continue as usual.
“As you would have heard through the media, of the referral of the Chief Justice to the Acting Public Prosecutor. As the Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, I would like to appeal to the people of Papua New Guinea, the Judiciary, and the Staff of the National Judicial Staff Services (NJSS), that the administrative operations and functions of the Judiciary continue as normally as possible.”
"To deliver excellent Legal & Justice Service to the State for and on behalf of the people of Papua New Guinea."
“In instances where the Office of the Chief Justice becomes vacant, the Deputy Chief, or if the Deputy Chief is unavailable, the next most senior judge, becomes the acting Chief Justice per Section 169(4) of the Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. This is the usual prescribed constitutional process to take effect.”
“Once again, I appeal to the general public, court-users and staff of NJSS and the Judiciary that it is business as usual and that all judicial and administrative functions shall operate as usual,” Niningi added.