Kelvin
Anthony RNZ Pacific digital/social lead
Kaya Selby
RNZ Pacific journalist
The Fijian government has
appointed a close professional associate of Prime Minister
Sitiveni Rabuka as the new chief legal adviser – the third
since the coalition took office – in the aftermath of his
acting attorney-general’s explicit video saga earlier this
month.
Sevuloni Valenitabua was sworn in as the
government’s chief law officer at the State House in Suva on
Tuesday.
The government said he “brings considerable
legal and regional experience, with a professional career
spanning private legal practice, constitutional litigation,
human rights and public legal services across Fiji and the
Pacific”.
Valenitabua’s appointment draws attention
due to his professional proximity to Rabuka. He was selected
to lead a seven-member Constitutional Review Commission
(CRC) earlier this year, while his son, Simione, is a
wellknown Suva lawyer, who currently serves as Rabuka’s
personal legal counsel, representing him in several ongoing
high-profile judicial review appeals.
Leaked report
reveals previous health concerns
RNZ Pacific has
obtained a copy of a selection panel report for Fiji’s
anti-corruption office chief, which Valenitabua was passed
over for due to a “medical condition pertaining the
heart”.
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According to the report, Valenitabua was
considered for the position of Fiji Independent Commission
Against Corruption (FICAC) commissioner in August 2024, but
was passed up in favour of Barbara Malimali.
The
selection panel included Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo,
Acting Chief Magistrate Josaia Waqaivolavola, and
Solicitor-General Ropate Green.
“The panels were
pleased that [Valenitabua] was upfront and declared that he
has a medical condition pertaining the heart,” the panel
wrote in its final recommendation.
“The panel has been
considerate of Mr Valenitabua’s medical condition which may
not be fit for the position as the successful candidate has
to handle a challenging environment at the FICAC office,”
the report read.
The subsequent appointment of
Malimali prompted a scandal that later sparked a
multi-million-dollar Commission of Inquiry, which remains
before the courts.
RNZ Pacific contacted Prime
Minister Rabuka’s office for
comment.
Attorney-General
appointments
Valenitabua is the third person to be
appointed to the role after Siromi Turaga resigned
just days after an explicit video appeared on his Facebook
profile on the eve of Fiji’s 56th independence
anniversary.
Turaga and Graham Leung – who was fired
in May 2025 – have been the other two appointees to the
role.
Filimoni Vosarogo, Rabuka’s Minister for Lands,
was also announced as Attorney-General to replace Turaga
during a Cabinet reshuffle in October 2023, but was never
sworn in following major backlash from the Fiji Law Society,
which argued that he was legally disqualified from holding
the position.
Rabuka subsequently rescinded the
appointment.
Constitutional reform
role
Valenitabua’s appointment comes as Rabuka is
leading a special parliamentary committee for nationwide
consultations on replacing Fiji’s 2013
Constitution.
Valenitabua was also the chairperson of
the CRC, which was established in March to review and
prepare a final report and a final draft constitution that
would replace the current supreme law of the
land.
Valenitabua and the Commission completed their
work and formally presented the documents to Fiji’s
President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu at the end of
August.
However, the government ditched the
Commission’s draft constitution and tabled its own version –
the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026.
The Bill is
expected to be debated for its third reading next week and
Valenitabua is expected to play a key role in the process as
a non-elected Attorney-General, who is entitled to attend
Cabinet as a minister and sit and participate in
parliament.
Meanwhile, Fijians are set to head the to
the polls by no later than 6 February
2027.
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