Salami: Jonathan under fire

The two political parties, the Campaign for Democracy and the Transition Monitoring Group described the President’s action and appointment of an Acting PCA, Justice Dalhatu Adamu, as unconstitutional.
They also said that Jonathan had started following the footsteps of his mentor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose administration, they said, was notorious for the violation of the rule of law.
The northern socio-political group, the Arewa Consultative Forum, also described Salami’s suspension as the continuation of “Kabukabu (macabre) dance” in the judiciary.
On his part, former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar called for an adherence to the constitution in the resolution of the crisis in the judiciary.

It’s repudiation of oath – ACN
The ACN, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, accused Jonathan of violating his oath of office, saying that the President’s action amounted to a repudiation of the oath he took to protect the constitution.
It added that the action confirmed the rumour making the rounds that the President might have been secretly pushing for the removal of Salami through “some hawks in the NJC.”

The ACN said the President’s action could be linked to fears that the petition by the CPC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, in the appeal court, might go against him (Jonathan).
It stated, “Indications are that the unequivocal action of the Nigeria Bar Association jolted the President to act quickly to effect Justice Salami’s removal, in line with the prepared script.’’
The party said President Jonathan exhibited “executive recklessness” when he acted on an issue that was pending before a court.
The ACN added, “Section 238 which the President relied on to remove Justice Salami and appoint an Acting President of the Court of Appeal deals with the appointment of President and Justices of the Court of Appeal if the office is vacant.

‘’Section 292 of the constitution deals with the removal of top judicial officers, including the President of the Court of Appeal. In accordance with this section, the President can only remove any of the listed officers, acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate. In other words, it is not even the President, but the Senate, that can initiate the process upon the recommendation of the NJC.

“By rushing to remove Justice Salami on the strength of Section 238, the President has committed the same faux pas as the NJC clique and violated the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has filled a post in which no vacancy exists, and has allowed himself to be guided by political expediency, rather than the provisions of the Constitution.”
They also said that Jonathan had started following the footsteps of his mentor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose administration, they said, was notorious for the violation of the rule of law.

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