Perjury: Court okays move to prosecute Salami

A move initiated by a former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, to compel the prosecution of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, for alleged perjury, received judicial blessing on Tuesday, with an Abuja High Court, Bwari, granting him leave to apply for an order of mandamus compelling the Attorney- General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN, to commence the criminal proceedings.
Justice Peter Affen held that he exercised his discretion in favour of the applicant (Oni) due to the public interest nature of the matter, adding that the order was not granted merely because the applicant asked for it.
The judge directed that Adoke should be served with the order within 14 days, with further hearing adjourned till March 8, 2012.
Meanwhile, as the frenzy continues over the planned reinstatement of Salami to office by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, the suspended PCA has disowned the National Judicial Council (NJC) headed by Musdapher.
In a motion on notice brought pursuant to section 295(2) of the 1999 Constitution, Salami, through his counsel, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, SAN, claimed that NJC had no power to appoint, suspend or reinstate him, since he was not an employee of the council.
He noted that NJC’s involvement in his appointment was simply to recommend, adding that the salary paid to him was governed by an Act of the National Assembly.
According to the affidavit supporting his motion, Salami claimed that: “The Labour Act, Trade Dispute Act, Employees Compensation Act are example of such laws regulating the relationship of employer and employee, none of which applies to him (Salami)”.
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