Former Chief Justice Daniel Vafo’ou Fatiaki was sworn in on Friday last week as the Republic of Nauru’s new chief justice, succeeding Filimone Jitoko who has retired.
His swearing in received wide accolades from the local justice fraternity.
Nauru’s former secretary for justice between 2012 and 2019, former Fijian lawyer and Electoral Commission chairman Graham Leung, welcomed Justice Fatiaki’s appointment.
“Justice Fatiaki’s elevation as Chief Justice of Nauru continues a strong tradition of Fiji sending judges and lawyers to that country,” he said.
“He is no stranger to service in the region having recently retired from the bench of the Supreme Court of Vanuatu.
“Daniel and I go back to the early 1980s when I worked under him in the DPP’s office in Suva as a young legal officer.
“Nazhat Shameem, Fiji’s Ambassador to the UN (Geneva) also worked under Daniel Fatiaki during that time.”
Born in 1954 in Upu, Motusa, Rotuma, Justice Fatiaki was Chief Justice of Fiji from August 2002, when he succeeded Sir Timoci Tuivaga, until December 5, 2008.
On January 19, 2008 he was formally suspended, pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct.
The investigation was dropped in December 2008 as part of a deal that involved his formal resignation.
