Justice Ayo Isa Salami

Tobi Soniyi 

The National Judicial Council (NJC) Thursday rescinded its earlier stance on the suspended Court of Appeal president, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, saying it would be pre-judicial to do so.

A source told THISDAY that when  the matter was raised for discussion, majority of the council members said the suits on Salami’s suspension are both pending in the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court and that the suit must be decided one way or the other before the council could consider it.

But a three-man panel headed by the present Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar, had earlier recommended to the council under the chairmanship of the immediate past CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, to recall Salami.

NJC adopted the three-man panel recommendation and asked President Goodluck Jonathan to  approve his reinstatement.
The president however refused to implement the recommendation of the council, citing pending legal issues.

But the council yesterday also agreed with Jonathan that Salami’s reinstatement could only come after matters on his suspension have been decided.

Meanwhile, the NJC threw out the recommendations by Kwara, Adamawa and Osun State governors for the appointments of chief judges for their respective states.
Specifically, the council rejected Kwara State governor Abdulfattah  Ahmed’s recommendation of Justice Suleiman Durosinlorun Kawu as chief judge of the state.

Also, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole’s planned elevation as chief judge of Osun State and Justice Binta Nyako’s recommendation by her husband, Governor Murtala Nyako were turned down.
The council asked the governors to re-forward nominations base on seniority to it for approval.