5 Aug 2011

Ex-PNG Prime Minister in court today

8:22 am on 5 August 2011

An application by former acting Papua New Guinea prime minister, Sam Abal, to overturn his ousting is to be heard today.

The Post Courier reports speaker of parliament, Jeffery Nape, has been named as the first defendant with the new prime minister, Peter O'Neill, the second defendant in the matter.

Mr Abal is asking the court to declare that the election of Mr O'Neill breached procedures for the appointment of a prime minister as stipulated in the constitution.

He will argue that on Tuesday there was no vacancy in the office as Mr O'Neill's supporters contend, but that such a vote should have happened one day later.