A spanner appears to have been thrown in the works as regards the expected early recall of the embattled Justice Isa Ayo Salami, suspended President of the Court of Appeal.
Reason: A human rights lawyer, Noah Ajare, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja praying the court to issue a “perpetual injunction restraining the president and his agents from commencing any actions on the council’s advice, pending the
determination of the substantive suit.”
In the said suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/271/201, Ajare also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation alongside the
president as co_defendants.
The plaintiff, through an originating summons, is asking the court for “a declaration that all the meetings, discussions and recommendations for the reinstatement of Salami by the president on the recommendations of the NJC must be put on hold, as it is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void, as the matter is sub judice.”
The expected response of President Goodluck Jonathan to the resolution of the National Judicial Council (NJC), to reinstate
Justice Salami did not materialise on Tuesday, The new suit has been fuelling speculations that the embattled jurist might yet wait longer.
Insider sources told our reporter that Jonathan may not want to be accused of double standard in dealing with the Salami imbroglio.
“There are numerous
litigations arising from the council’s resolution, in which the Attorney-General or the president had been made a party. If he respected
the pendency of Salami’s suit by not sending his name to the Senate for compulsory retirement, as requested by the same NJC last year, as well as not sending Adamu’s name for confirmation as substantive president, he might also want to respect the pending suit seeking to stop him from endorsing Salami’s return, pending its determination,” the high-ranking official argued.
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