Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has called Salega’s Member of Parliament, Olo Fonoti Vaai, “a professional idiotic humbug.”

The Prime Minister offered the description in response to claims by Olo that Tuilaepa’s administration has failed the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration (M.J.C.A.), saying “it’s in limbo.”

Olo had also urged the Prime Minister to make the appointment of the Chief Justice a priority, and to sort out the issue with the President of the Lands and Titles Court who was recently convicted.

But Prime Minister Tuilaepa was not impressed when the Samoa Observer asked him for a comment. He said it was an “insult” for Olo to suggest the Ministry of Justice is “in limbo.”

“That is a matter of opinion,” Tuilaepa said.

“And coming from an M.P. who is well known for his very highly subjective and irresponsible media lashing for the sake of a juicy headline and his picture to appear on your paper has led me to believe that this M.P. has earned the Special Parliament’s Laughing Stock title.”

Tuilaepa added that Olo is a “poor fellow” who is lost and blind.

“To say that the M.J.C.A is in limbo for the lack of leaders, a quote from Olo, is an insult to the M.J.C.A. staff and judges who are more than qualified and competent in discharging their duties, compared to Olo, who is a professional idiotic humbug,” Tuilaepa continued.

“Please kindly have mercy on the poor fellow who is lost and blinded to see that you have deliberately made him leap innocently into the limelight for all the wrong reasons.”

But Olo would not back down.

Told that Tuilaepa had called him “a professional idiotic humbug,” Olo laughed.

“Tuilaepa should address the issues I raised instead of trying to divert the attention towards me,” he responded.

“The public is not stupid, they can read between the lines.”

Olo also criticised Tuilaepa’s reference to “secret whispers” in relation to the appointment of the Chief Justice.

“Mr Prime Minister, please do your job and appoint the next Chief Justice, you were not placed on that seat to await the secret whispers of the Holy Spirit,” said Olo.

“The real issue here is that there is no Chief Justice, no President of the Lands and Titles Court and the contract for the C.E.O. has just been terminated. So you tell me who is the idiotic humbug? Again, Tuilaepa do your job.”