Fiji's former Vice President and High Court judge Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi has passed away after a short illness.
Ratu Joni had been Nauru's chief justice for the past two years.
He was Fiji's Vice President for two years until Frank Bainimarama's coup in December 2006.
A Fijian historian who lives in exile in Australia, Dr Brij Lal, told Alex Perrottet Ratu Joni leaves a deep legacy.
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![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="700px" width="1050px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Nauru Chief Justice Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (right) swears in President Baron Waqa (left) in July 2016. Photo: Republic of Nauru Government