COURT STAYS LINO CASE; ELLIS GRAHAM RE-APPOINTMENT UNDER REVIEW

CAPTION: Wabag MP, Dr Lino Tom

BY BENJAMIN KOITAKA

THE Supreme Court in Waigani has stayed the incumbent Wabag MP Dr Lino Tom’s election petition case, while the High Court will also look into issues relating to the re-appointment of residential Judge Justice Ellis Graham, as genuine or not.

Wabag Resident Judge Justice Ellis Graham’s term as the judge has expired on the 21st of November 2025, however, he continues serving the province as the judge, and one of the high-profile cases he heard and handled at the province was the Wabag Open Election petition, which the matter is now before the Court.

In a five-men Supreme Court ruling this morning, have unanimously granted Dr Lino a legal standing to pursue the matter while also highlighted that the Election Petition numbers 15 and 19 of the 2022 will be stayed.

Minister for Justice and Attorney General Pila Niningi has made the official re-appointment of Justice Ellis Graham, late last year, while Wabag MP Dr Lino already filed the application at the Courts registry, seeking clarity and constitutional issues surrounding Justice Ellis and his handling of the Wabag Election petition.

The proceedings continue next Monday in Port Moresby.