Presidential tribunal exposes reason for Salami’s removal – ACN

Posted by admin Judiciary, Latest Politics Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) said the speedy disbandment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal constituted by Justice Ayo Salami may have finally exposed the real reason he (Justice Salami) was removed as the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA).

In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said all other illegalities committed by the NJC and President Goodluck Jonathan in removing Justice Salami aside, now seem clear to everyone that he was actually eased out to pave the way for judges, whom those behind his removal perceived as ‘friendly’, to sit on the tribunal.

“That Justice Dalhatu Adamu, Acting President of the PCA, quickly dismantled the panel, even as time is running out to hear the case filed by the CPC challenging the President’s election, seems to be a confirmation of the rumours making the rounds that President Jonathan was afraid that his election may be overturned by the old panel, hence, he acceded to the illegal recommendation of the NJC to remove Justice Salami.
“Even if there is no sinister motive for the action by Justice Adamu in dispersing the judges sitting on the case, which is possible, his hasty action at a time the controversy over the way Justice Salami was removed is at its peak is enough reason to sow the seeds of doubt over his action,” it said.

ACN said the disbandment of the election petition panel now made it difficult for anyone to believe that enlightened self-interest was not the reason why the President ignored the Constitution in aligning with the recommendation of the NJC on Justice Salami.
The party said if the removal of Justice Salami and the disbanding of the tribunal was considered along with the fact that President Jonathan was a party to the pending case before it (tribunal), it seemed more evident than ever that the President failed to abide by the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, as contained in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.
“Paragraph 1 of the code states: ‘[a] public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.’

“This is one more reason why the President must reverse his action on the Justice Salami case today. Otherwise he would expose himself to the accusation and rightly so, that he allowed his personal interest to dictate his conduct as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” ACN said.

-Sunwp_posts