Chief Donald Moses of the Lower Nicola Indian band found to be unlawfully suspended according to a June 4 ruling in the Federal Court of Canada.

Band members locked the doors to Chief Moses’ office in January 2010 in protest of his impeachment of councillors Stuart Jackson, Clyde Sam, and Mary June, who were dismissed over the alleged misappropriation of about $1.2 million of the Band’s funds.

In February 2010 Former LNIB Chief Arthur Dick said Moses was not carrying out due process in his duties as Chief and members brought forth a petition for impeachment over Moses’ handling of financial affairs.

Councillors Aaron Sam, Yvonne Basil, Molly Toodlican, Lucinda Seward, and Joanne Lafferty met in secret and suspended the Chief for unspecified reasons.

The Chief and council of the LNIB were represented by Councillor Connie Joe and Councillor Harold Joe in the court proceedings.

Justice Douglas Campbell ruled over the case and the court found the suspension of Chief Moses “for the duration of an audit of the Band’s finances to be invalid and unlawful.”

“The Court made the right decision,” said Chief Moses regarding the ruling. “ The council that did suspend me, they really had no grounds to do so. They wasted a lot of their own resources, my resources, and the community's.”

“We have to work as a council,” continues Moses. “If we don’t the community suffers.”

Chief Moses has served on his community council for over 25 years and this is the first time he has been accused of something unlawful.

An injunction has also been put into place “prohibiting all parties from otherwise suspending or removing Chief Moses or any Councillor from office for the balance of his or her term without leave of the Court.”