NJC splits over Salami

Wednesday, 29 February 2012 23:00 administrator

lsets up committee to resolve differences

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

Indications emerged yesterday from the meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC), that recalling the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami may stretch a little longer following divisions among members of the council.
As a result of this development, NJC is yet to reach a decision on whether to recall Justice Salami or not, but set up a committee to iron out divergent areas with a view to resolving the differences among members.
The committee will report back to the council at a later date.
The leadership of the council is said to be interested in recalling him but has to allow other members to air their grievances.
A source who also spoke with our reporter said that no decision has been taken on Salami yet because the meeting continues today (Thursday).
The source said that there were divisions among the members. While some are sympathetic to Salami and believed that he should be recalled so as to restore the credibility of the judiciary, others who were loyalists of the former CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu were against such a recall.
This information could not be confirmed because council members declined comments.
Salami was suspended by the NJC on August 18, last year after an emergency session.
Justice Musdapher, on October 14, last year, raised a 29-member stakeholders’ Judicial Reform Committee, headed by a former CJN, Justice Mohammed Uwais.
A sub-committee of the panel, including Justice Mamman Nasir, Justice U. Kalgo and Justice Bola Ajibola, asked the CJN and the NJC to reinstate Justice Salami to his position.
The committee upheld the decisions of the sub-committee and recommended Justice Salami’s reinstatement.
Salami is in court challenging his suspension as the president of the Court of Appeal.
Unconfirmed reports had it that Salami had been advised to withdraw his case to pave way for an amicable resolution of the dispute.
However, as at press time no application to discontinue the suit had been filed.