Absence of CJN, Adoke, Auta, others stall hearing on Salami’s suit

Hopes of the embattled President of the Court of Appeal, PCA, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, to promptly return to office was dashed yesterday, following the inability of a Federal High Court in Abuja to commence hearing on any of the suits challenging the propriety of his suspension by the National Judicial Council, NJC, and the subsequent appointment of an Acting President of the Court of Appeal by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Hearing on the three separate motions he filed before the High Court suffered a setback, yesterday, dueto the absence of most of the defendants in court.
KATSINA-ALU & SALAMI
Whereas it was only the NJC that had a legal representation in court yesterday, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu; Deputy Chairman of the NJC, Justice Musdapher Dahiru; Attorney Generalof the Federation, Mohammed Adoke Bello,SAN, as well as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, were absent among others.
Adducing reasons for their absence, counsel to the NJC, Mr. Aliyu Sarki, who held the briefof Mr. Lawal Rabana, SAN, insisted that the plaintiff, Salami, failed to serve the requisite court processes and hearing date on all the necessary parties to the suit.
When the case was called up yesterday, leadcounsel to the plaintiff, who is a former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, informed the court that his client had three separate applications, stressing that the 1st to 4th defendants were dully served with the processes.
Reacting to the request,counsel to the NJC, Mr Sarki, contended that it would be in the interest of justice for the case to be adjourned, noting that apart from non-service of the courtpapers on most of the parties, that they are equally entitled to sevendays to file their defences.