By Staycey Yalo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Member for Imbongu, Pila Niningi and ousted member, Francis Awesa reached an agreement to settle outstanding legal fees. The settlement was done on Friday (May 25) with Niningi, paying Awesa a sum of K114, 000. The payment stems from Niningi’s 2012 election petition against Awesa, who was sitting member then.
The petition was dismissed with Niningi being ordered to pay the costs. However, in 2017, a judgment was reached in favor of Awesa for taxed costs to the sum of K164, 902.49. Niningi in return filed 6 bills of costs for taxation totalling K84,596.42, under the same proceedings for Awesa to pay him. These costs were for successful applications by Niningi during the same proceedings such as changing the trial venue from Mendi to Mt Hagen and protecting witnesses from harassment, among others, were the court awarded the costs against Awesa.
Following negotiations undertaken by both parties with their lawyers ended with the signing of the Deed of Settlement with Ninigi agreeing to pay out Awesa in the sum of K114, 000.00.
