Former Papua New Guinea Chief Justice Joins Nauru Court of Appeal

YAREN, Nauru | 15 June 2026: Former Papua New Guinea Chief Justice Sir Gibuma Gibbs Salika has been sworn in as a judge of Nauru's Court of Appeal, bringing nearly five decades of legal and judicial experience to the Pacific island nation's highest appellate court.

The swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday, with Nauru Vice President Lionel Aingimea welcoming Sir Gibbs to the judiciary and describing his appointment as a significant addition to the country's legal system.

Vice President Aingimea said Sir Gibbs had helped guide Papua New Guinea through some of its most challenging political and administrative periods and that it was both a privilege and an honour to have him serve within Nauru's judiciary.

Sir Gibbs joins three other judges and the President of the Court of Appeal. Speaking after taking the oath of office, he said he was honoured to serve in Nauru and looked forward to learning more about the country's legal challenges while working alongside fellow judges to uphold the rule of law.

Before his appointment in Nauru, Sir Gibbs served as Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea and built a legal career spanning 46 years.

He entered public service in 1979 as a legal officer with the Office of the Public Prosecutor before rising through the ranks of Papua New Guinea's justice system. In 1990, he was appointed a judge of the National Court and Supreme Court, later serving in senior roles including Principal Magistrate and legal counsel to the Ombudsman Commission.

Throughout his career, Sir Gibbs also contributed to judicial education and legal development across the Pacific through professional associations, the PNG Law Society, and regional judicial training programmes.

The Government of the Republic of Nauru

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