The council and Salami were reportedly moving close to effecting the agreed political solution to the long-running leadership crisis in the court, with Salami already agreeing in principle to a proposal by the council to temporarily return to office and retire after three months.
The retirement notice was expected to be submitted to the council before the return to office.
The idea was decided at the last council meeting as a lasting solution to the crisis triggered by Salami’s suspension by the council 15 months ago, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukthar, who doubles as the chairman of the council, reportedly factoring the support of President Goodluck Jonathan into the political equation that was primed to see Salami withdraw the suit challenging his suspension, file retirement notice, return to office and quit after three months.
The fresh frenzy to stop the implementation of the agenda was reportedly taking place at the level of both the political and judicial circles, with various vested interests reportedly pulling different strings to stop his resumption.
A source in the know disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that the sudden interest in the political solution by stakeholders was triggered by a discovery that those pushing Salami’s case may advise him not to honour the retirement arrangement once he gets into office, even if he tendered the premature retirement notice before his return to office.
It was learnt that the camp planned to challenge the arrangement in court once Salami goes in.
The Nigerian Tribune source disclosed that legal team that will work for Salami would be telling the court that he was interested in completing his full service years which terminate in October 2013.
The alleged plot had seen those opposed to his reinstatement embark on different moves to stall the implementation of the council-backed solution, using the court, the presidency and the judicial circle.
Certain judicial officers, who were reportedly against Salami spending a minute again on the seat, according to Nigerian Tribune’s findings, were already establishing contacts with the presidency and anti-Salami NJC members, while cases in courts were being given extra attention, in order to plug all loopholes.
A source disclosed that the council had been keeping its jokers on the chest since the Nigerian Tribune exclusively reported the resolution asking Salami to retire and his conditional acceptance, which might culminate in Justice Dalhatu Adamu’s senior taking over instead of a junior, in order not to fall into administrative discomfort of asking a junior to boss a senior, though it would not be novel, at least, at state chief judges’ level.
A council source told the Nigerian Tribune that the only snag in the joker was the Salami’s pending case which he had not withdrawn as of press time, though he still had today to so do.
It was also learnt last night that Adamu’s fate had been sealed, as the council had been reportedly sensitised on why he should go tomorrow, though an objection from the president may save the day for him.
It was further gathered that the issue of the dropped justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo, is the sole issue on the agenda of the council’s emergency meeting slated for tomorrow, with a source adding that the issue of Adamu’s continued headship of the Court of Appeal might come under AOB (any other business).
The council is expected to withdraw the appointment of the embattled judge as justice of the intermediate court.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has summoned the council in a suit seeking to stop the reinstatement of Salami, with the court joining the council suo moto and ordering the service of processes on it.
The suit, filed by Noah Ajare, was adjourned till December 13.
NigerianTribune
No comments:
Post a Comment