Former Attorney General to act for AG’s Office in former Deputy Prime Minister’s Application

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 10 April 2026: The former Attorney General Su’a Helena Wallwork-Lamb and Kings Counsel Christopher Finlayson will act on behalf of the AG’s office in the current application by former Deputy Prime Minister, Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo against the Electoral Court decision.

The decision voided Toelupe’s parliamentary seat and as a Member of Parliament for Falealili 1. But that decision has been stayed after Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese granted Toelupe’s application to stay of the decision until the legal matters before the court are sorted.

Toelupe remains as an MP but has since stepped down as Deputy Prime Minister and from his ministerial responsibilities.

Chief Justice Perese also referred the matter to be carried by KC Justice Rhys Harrison.

The matter was mentioned yesterday to set a timetable for the hearing and Justice Harrison ruled that the current Attorney General, Mauga Precious Chang be recused as she has a conflict of interest in the Toelupe matter.

The court noted that Mauga is a former law partner of Muriel Lui who represented Toelupe in the Supreme Court hearing and is also representing him in the current application against the electoral court decision.

As with all election petitions, a decision cannot be appealed, however, Toelupe has opted for a constitutional right hearing with the hope to take it further to the Court of Appeal.

Timetable set
The court has set a time schedule for all parties to provide documents and all necessary information within a certain period prior to the hearing on 20 April 2026.

Toelupe’s counsel to file all submissions by 13 April and for the Respondents to file their submissions by 17 April 2026.

An affidavit submitted by Toelupe has already been filed and his counsel must provide an argument to support admissibility of the affidavit as evidence.

Further direction will be provided by the court should the matter proceed to a higher court.

The parties to the matter include Toelupe as the Applicant, Tuiloma Laniselota Lameko as the First Respondent and Parliament Speaker Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua as the Second Respondent.