In an open memo addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III advised the Presidency to reinstate the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami.
It will be recalled that Justice Salami was, on the 18th of August, 2011, suspended by the National Judicial Council (NJC), for refusing to apologize to the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Aloysius Katsina-Alu, for allegedly lying on oath against him.
However, despite the fact that the NJC on the 10th of May, 2012, recalled the justice, the Presidency has been reluctant to honour the move. The Alaafin then queries: “If the President could suspend him at the time he did when his case against the relevant persons or bodies were pending, I cannot now fathom why the pendency of certain cases in court will now form the basis of not reinstating him when the body (i.e. NJC) which recommended him for suspension has rescinded that decision”.
According to the Alaafin, “I urge His Excellency to rise above political bickering and influence and take a firm stand as a statesman, which I have no doubt, he is, to see that Justice Ayo Salami is reinstated as the President of the Court of Appeal, forthwith”.
