8 Apr 2008

Nauru's Justice Minister says Supreme court ruling is final

10:00 am on 8 April 2008

Nauru's Justice Minister, Mathew Batsiua, says a Supreme Court ruling upholding the right of parliamentarians to have dual citizenship is final and not open to appeal.

The Chief Justice, Robin Millhouse, yesterday ruled in favour of all ten submissions made by the Government's lawyer, including the finding that an Easter Saturday sitting was unlawful, as was any business concluded then.

Central to the Supreme Court hearing was the question of parliamentary eligibility of two senior ministers who hold dual citizenships.

The opposition had attempted to amend the relevant Act to exclude the two at its unlawful meeting, which lacked a quorum.

Opposition MP and Speaker of parliament, David Adeang, has been warned he could be in contempt of Court if he attempts to defy the ruling.

Mr Batsiua also says the majority of MPs disagree with the speaker's actions over the past two weeks.

But he says they've been blocked from moving a motion of dissent by Mr Adeang's refusal to allow the parliament to conduct its business since the house recessed on April 20th.