Vui Clarance Nelson to be sworn in as Ombudsman today

Staff Reporters/

Apia, SAMOA – 26 June 2026 – Former Senior Judge of the Supreme Court, Vui Clarence Nelson will be sworn in as the country’s Ombudsman this afternoon.

The appointment was announced by the Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt and accepted in a motion of Parliament as the last item on Parliament’s agenda after it passed the 2026/2027 Budget Estimates close to midnight last night.

The Constitutional appointment is made by the Head of State on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly.

Parliament resumes at 9.30 this morning and the Speaker announced the Ombudsman will be sworn in at the Tofilau Eti Alesana Building, Mulinu’u at 1.00 this afternoon.

Vui Clarence Nelson ended his long career as one of the country’s longest-serving guardians of justice with his final sitting in the Supreme Court on Wednesday this week.

The Office of the Ombudsman is also Samoa’s National Human Rights Institution and provides advice to the general public on matters relating to good governance and investigate practices of maladministration of government agencies.

It also carries out research and conducts activities in the promotion and protection of human rights in Samoa and conducts investigations concerning the abuse of power by enforcement agencies.