Jonathan may reinstate Salami as A’Court President

Posted by admin Judiciary, Latest Politics Friday, May 11th, 2012

May 12, 2012 by Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami

President Goodluck Jonathan may formally reinstate the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, next week following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.

A Presidency source, however, said the step would only be taken after the President must have received an official correspondence from the NJC on the matter.

The NJC had on Thursday recommended the reinstatement of Salami, who was suspended on the heels of a disagreement he had with the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.

The source, who pleaded not to be named because he is not the President’s spokesman, recalled that in appointing the incumbent occupant of the office, Justice Dalhatu Adamu, in acting capacity, Jonathan acted on an earlier recommendation by the NJC on Salami’s suspension.

He said the President had not taken side since Salami’s ordeal began and would not likely change his stance.

He recalled that in appointing Adamu, the President made it clear that he (Adamu) would remain in office until all issues relating to Salami were resolved.

The statement issued by Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, on the appointment of Adamuhad said, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is in receipt of a correspondence dated 18th August, 2011, from the National Judicial Council, recommending the compulsory retirement of Hon. Justice Isa Ayo Salami, OFR, for misconduct in accordance with the provisions of Section 292 (1) (a) (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, and Rule 1 (1) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Consequently, President Jonathan, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 238 (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, has approved the acting appointment of Hon. Justice Dalhatu Adamu to perform the functions of the office of the President of the Court of Appeal pending when all issues relating to the office of the President of the Court of Appeal are resolved.”

As at the time the NJC recommended Salami’s reinstatement on Thursday, Jonathan was attending the World Economic Forum on Africa holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He should have returned to the country either late on Friday or early on Saturday.

The source expressed the belief that once the President returns and receives official correspondence from the NJC on the issue, he would act accordingly after consulting with the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN).

Abati could not be reached for comments on the issue at the time of filing this report as he was on the entourage of the President to Addis Ababa.

He did not reply to an electronic mail sent to him on the matter.

After considering the report of an ad hoc committee set up to resolve the crisis within the judiciary, the NJC resolved to reinstate Salami, who was suspended by the council on Aug. 18, 2011.

The NJC rose from a two-day meeting on Thursday with a resolution to reinstate the embattled president of the Court of Appeal, after a nine-month impasse.

Although there was no official statement from the NJC, a source privy to what transpired at the meeting said the council had forwarded a recommendation for Salami’s reinstatement to Jonathan.

The source, who did not wish to be named, said that the decision was taken in a bid to reach a consensus on the matter.

A previous meeting on Feb. 29, 2012, to consider the recommendation that Salami should be reinstated made by the 29-member Judicial Reform Committee, headed by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Uwais, had ended in a deadlock.

The committee was raised by the CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, on Oct. 14, 2011.-Punchwp_posts