Lawyer and SODELPA MP, Niko Nawaikula, has been charged for professional misconduct by the Legal Practitioners Unit.

It is alleged that Nawaikula did not obtain the necessary approval from the members of a mataqali (clan) in order to facilitate the formation of the deed.

It is alleged that by not seeking the approval of the clan represented a substantial failure on his part to reach or maintain a reasonable standard of competence and diligence in this matter.

He appeared before Commissioner Justice Daniel Goundar in the Independent Legal Services Commission yesterday.

Particulars

The context of the charge against the Respondent Nawaikula is that he prepared a mataqali trust deed for the conduct of affairs of the mataqali and for the disbursement of trust monies received from iTaukei Land Trusts Board for the clan.

The mataqali is Nabukebuke in Namosi. The trust deed is dated May 6, 2009.

The Deed prescribed certain administrative procedures to be followed and roles of the trustees generally, among other duties, which allegedly not followed. Nawaikula will front the Commission once again on September 4, on the above charges. This is not the first time the MP has been charged for professional misconduct.

On February 16, 2015, Nawaikula was suspended for two months and fined $2,000 after being found guilty of two counts of professional misconduct.

On April 12, 2013, Nawaikula was fined $2000 for professional misconduct.

He was found guilty of instructing another lawyer to carry work under his law firm’s name while the other lawyer did not have a practicing certificate.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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