Miliakere Nawaikula says Niko is a village boy at heart and was always planning to go back

Niko Nawaikula's wife, Miliakere Nawaikula has told the Suva High Court that the SODELPA MP is a village boy at heart and was always planning to return to the village.

While giving evidence in court today, Miliakere says Nawaikula had decided before the 2018 elections that he would move back to the village whatever the outcome.

She says Nawaikula continuously stayed in the village and would only come for Parliament or to attend court cases.

Miliakere says they have been involved in a number of developments in the village and they started a yaqona plantation in the village in 2017.

She adds another reason why Nawaikula wanted to go back to the village was because of his elderly parents who stayed on their own.

Miliakere says Nawaikula's father is 90 years old and his mother is 87 years and their faces would light up everytime they would see any of their children, especially Nawaikula.

The trial continues in the Suva High Court.

It is alleged that Nawaikula gave false information about his residence to the former Secretary General of Parliament while claiming for parliamentary allowances.

Nawaikula allegedly falsely stated that his permanent place of residence was in Buca village, Buca Bay and allegedly obtained $20,201.35 between August 2019 and April 2020.

He is charged with one count of Giving False Information to a Public Servant and one count of Obtaining Financial Advantage.

Meanwhile, FICAC has also charged SODELPA MPs Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, Salote Radrodro, Simione Rasova, Peceli Vosanibola and Adi Litia Qionibaravi and former FijiFirst MP Vijendra Prakash with a count of Giving False Information to a Public Servant and one count each of Obtaining Financial Advantage.