Salami: Jonathan consulting on NJC’s decision

Salami

Suspended Court of Appeal (PCA) President Isa Ayo Salami is yet to get a notice of his reinstatement from the National Judicial Council (NJC), The Nation learnt yesterday.

President Goodluck Jonathan is said to be consulting on whether to accept the recommendation of the Council or not.

The NJC, which suspended Justice Salami on August 18, last year, on Thursday, directed that he should be reinstated.

But, as at last night, the NJC had not communicated its decision to Justice Salami, contrary to the procedure it adopted in suspending him from office.

The President was on Friday notified of the NJC’s decision to reinstate Justice Salami, sources said.

A source said: “Well, as we are talking, the NJC is yet to forward its decision to the suspended PCA. We are hopeful that it might do so on Monday.

“No one could explain what informed the slow process, but by Monday, the true picture of the situation will emerge.

“The practice in the NJC is for the Council to notify the President and inform the affected justice at the same time. This was the same method adopted by the NJC last year when it suspended Justice Salami.

“This scenario has created suspense among the Court of Appeal staff.”

A source in government said: “President Goodluck Jonathan is consulting and seeking legal advice on the recommendation of the NJC, in view of some applications before some courts.

“He needs to read the details of what transpired and how the NJC arrived at its decision. Do not forget that the NJC had last year asked the President to retire Justice Salami from service.

“He also needs to be advised on how to go about it. This borders on the fact that whether Justice Salami can be reinstated by the President or he ought to go back to the Senate.”

But a Senior Advocate, who spoke in confidence, said: “The applications before some courts by ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Segun Oni have nothing to do with Justice Salami’s fate.

“As a matter of fact, the NJC had dismissed issues raised before it by Oyinlola and Oni. Specifically, the NJC cleared Justice Salami of having been engaged in any calls with politicians to influence the outcome of election petitions in Osun and Ekiti states.

“They also cannot use pending application(s) before any court as an excuse because the NJC had shunned Justice Salami’s application before a court in suspending him.

“When Justice Ibrahim Auta Panel recommended a letter of warning from the NJC to Justice Salami and asked Salami to apologise within one week to the former CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, he went to court before the expiration of the deadline for the apology.

“Justice Salami went to court amid drama of evasion of service by the NJC Executive Secretary, Halilu Danladi. But the Council still went ahead to suspend him, in defiance of the court process.

“I think everyone in the Judiciary believes that the President has a golden opportunity to resolve this judicial crisis once and for all. He will be a hero, if he does that by reinstating Justice Salami. Any contrary decision will justify the allegation that there is a personal score to settle with Justice Salami.”