LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST STATE TOTALING MORE THAN K10b

CAPTION: Solicitor-General George Akia

BY BENJAMIN KOITAKA

LAWSUITS and claims filed against the State is estimated to have cost at around more than K10billion and it is growing everyday, says a top Solicitor-General official.

Solicitor-General George Akia revealed that claims towards the State, accumulated since the early 2000s till now, and other additional costs such as judgements debts had already cost the State more than K10b and numbers are growing.

Solicitor-General Akia said the only option to tackle the trend is for his office to establish and forge strong partnership with provincial governments to combat and address these issues.

Mr Akia commended Jiwaka, Enga and West New Britain Provinces for taking the bold step in reaching out to them to have the Solicitor-General office in their province.

“The current file load is around 250-300, the average and the potential value of all Court file that against the State is over K10billion,” Akia told media last week, after signing a MoU with the Enga provincial government to establish a Solicitor-General Office in the province.

“This is the number of files and the value of files that we deal with.

“Currently as we speak, there are still outstanding, judgement debts that dates back to the early 2000s.
“Ove half a billion, that actual judgement debt State is yet to settle.”

Mr Akia strongly recommends every province to tie-knot with his office to establish offices right around the country to defend the State.

“With the leadership of Attorney General and Minister, we are working in terms of legacy Issues as to outstanding debts.
“But the current actual risk of judgement entered against the State is quite high, due to us not having offices in those various provinces.

“That is the main reason why we are establishing an office up in Enga Province.

Department of Justice & Attorney General secretary Dr. Eric Kwa also expressed similar sentiments, urged everyone to play their role in defending the State.

Dr. Kwa said instead of these monies paid to go use in building infrastructure developments, hospitals and others, the monies a being wasted to certain individuals and others.

“It is because we are not there,” Dr. Kwa added.

“It is really important if we can set up offices in the rest of the province then, it could help us in defend that total value.
“It is estimated to be value of K10 billion.

“Partner with the provinces so we can save the State.”