Lawyers advise Salami to resign

President, Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami

Prominent lawyers have faulted the suspension of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, by the Nigerian Judicial Commission.

In separate interviews, the lawyers, who expressed their surprise, berated the council for suspending Salami for no worthy reason.

Dr. Kayinsola Ajayi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said Salami’s refusal to apologise to the council and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, should not warrant a suspension.

He said, “We are all surprised, just because he (Salami) did not apologise? When they wanted him to retire, why did they suspend him first? He should resign. That is just the best thing for him to do.”

Similarly, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, said the hallmark of a statesman was the courage to quit when his continued stay in a position became unwholesome, adding that the Nigerian Bar Association could only pull out of the council after a collective agreement of its members.

On his part, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, described the development as “ominous”, saying it was contemptuous of the council to have taken the decision when Salami had taken the case before a competent court of law.

He said, “Members of the council have defied what Nigeria stands for, which is the rule of law. It is an act of judicial lawlessness and an abuse of judicial position.”

Also, Mr. Yusuf Ali, SAN, said indiscipline was making the judicial arm of the government experience instability like other arms of government.

He said, “It is a very sad development, and also unfortunate for the third arm of government to join the other two arms in indiscipline.”

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