Kastina-Alu vs Salami: NJC suspends Salami indefinitely

Following his refusal to apologise to either the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu or the council for allegedly lying on oath, the National Judicial Council, NJC, yesterday, wielded the big stick against the embattled President of the Court of Appeal, PCA, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, by handing him an indefinite suspension.

The council specifically ordered him to hand over affairs of the appellate court to the next most senior justice of the court, adding that it has forwarded a recommendation to President Goodluck Jonathan for his immediate retirement from judicial service.
NJC, which took the decision after its seventh emergency meeting said it acted in line with the statutory powers conferred on it by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.
A statement by the council’s Director of Administration, Mr. E.I. Odukwu said: “Pursuant to the powers conferred on the National Judicial Council in the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, Hon. Justice Isa Ayo Salami, OFR, President of the Court of Appeal has been suspended from office with effect from today, August 18, 2011.
“The decision was reached at the seventh emergency meeting of the Council held on August 18, 2011.
“The decision which was reached at the National Judicial Council further directs that Hon. Justice Salami should hand over the affairs of the Court of Appeal to the next most senior justice of the court. Meanwhile, a recommendation has been forwarded to the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to retire him from service.”
Though the council had on Wednesday, accepted copies of the court processes filed against it by Justice Salami, it however, declined to make any reference to the court action pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
It is height of injustice—Salami
Meantime, Salami has called the bluff of the council, describing his suspension as “the height of injustice and judicial recklessness.”
A source in his legal team, who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, said the action of the council amounted to contempt of court since the subject matter of the NJC probe verdict that mandated the PCA to apologise to the CJN was already seized by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Describing Salami as a victim of “high level judicial conspiracy,” the source said the PCA had vowed to fight the battle to its logical conclusion.