Court to hear bid to restrain govt today

By JACOB POK

THE East Sepik provincial government's bid to obtain an interim injunction to restrain the government from withdrawing its financial powers will be heard in court today, The National reports.
The matter was heard yesterday at the Waigani National Court but adjourned because state lawyers were not present.
Despite the urgency of the matter, and the provincial government's move to have the matter heard ex-parte (only one party), presiding judge Justice Ambeng Kandakasi ruled that all parties should be present in court to properly deal with the matter.
He then adjourned the matter and told state lawyers present in court to advise their colleagues to appear today.
The Finance and Treasury had last week proposed to withdraw the financial powers of the Morobe and East Sepik provincial governments because of alleged abuse and mismanagement of funds by executives.
The Morobe provincial government successfully obtained interim restraining orders on Monday at the Lae National Court, temporarily stopping the government from signing instruments that would effect the decision to remove its financial powers.