Fiji's top legal advisor says the wrongful appointment of Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau as new chairperson of the Fiji's Constituency Boundaries Commission was an oversight on his part.
Fiji's President's appointment of Adi Koila as new chair was announced yesterday but it soon emerged that her Senate membership in the last term automatically disqualifies her from the position.
Adi Koila was to replace lawyer Ulamila Fa-Tuituku as the chairwoman, after the latter recently withdrew for family commitments.
But the interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has now clarified that the constitution precludes Adi Koila's qualification for the position.
"I had actually forgotten that she was a senator previously. I've already spoken to her about it when it was brought to my attention. She'll obviously resign and we'll appoint somebody and we've got to appoint somebody. In fact the blame rest entirely with me and so I've apologised to her, I've apologised to the President's office and hopefully we'll be appointing a chairperson in due course."
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
