High Court declares COI report null and void
The court found that the Commissioner of Inquiry, Justice Ashton Lewis, had acted with bias during the inquiry.
Friday 14 August 2026 | 16:30
Left: Former Attorney-General Graham Leung, top: former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali, bottom: Fiji Law Society (FLS) president Wylie Clarke.
Photos: Ronald Kumar; Supplied
The High Court in Suva has declared the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report null and void, quashing its recommendations in their entirety after finding the inquiry was tainted by bias and breached the rules of natural justice.
Justice Dane Tuiqereqere delivered the landmark ruling this afternoon, reading from a 154-page judgment.
The court found that the Commissioner of Inquiry, Justice Ashton Lewis, had acted with bias during the inquiry.
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Justice Tuiqereqere also ruled that several parties were denied natural justice during the proceedings.
They include former Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner Barbara Malimali, former Attorney-General Graham Leung, Fiji Law Society president Wylie Clarke and former Fiji Law Society president Laurel Vaurasi.
As a result, the court declared the COI report null and void and set aside its recommendations in their entirety.
The matter has been adjourned to August 25, when the court will hear submissions on costs.
More on this story in the Fiji Sun tomorrow.
