Salami: NJC meeting deadlocked, resumes today

AS exclusively reported by the Nigerian Tribune, the National Judicial Council (NJC) was reportedly split into two during its meeting on Wednesday, over the planned reinstatement of the suspended president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami.With both the pro- and anti-Salami said to be unwilling to shift grounds, the deadlock was said to have been broken by the chairman of the council and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, who reportedly adjourned the meeting till today.The much-disputed report of the Judicial Reform Panel had recommended the reinstatement of Sa-lami, but deliberation on Wednesday was said to have revolved round the pendency of cases in court in relation to the Salami saga.While the majority of the members was reportedly in favour of the reinstatement discussion being put in abeyance, pending the resolution of the cases in court, the minority was said to have routed for the discussion and conclusion of the matter, despite the pendency of the cases.Apart from the suit brought by Salami challenging his suspension as well as the reports of the Justice Umaru Abdullahi and Justice Ibrahim Auta's panels, two fresh suits had been filed on the matter.Former Ekiti State governor, Chief Segun Oni, had filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, while a human rights lawyer, Noah Ajare also filed a suit with no FHC/ABJ/CS/27/2012 at the Federal High Court, Abuja.It was learnt that Ajare's suit was the main reason for the dilemma of the council, considering his argument that if the reform panel accused the council of acting subjudice in suspending Salami, it could afford to commit the same error all over again, by acting sub judice on the same matter again.It was learnt that moments after the members settled down to business on Wednesday, the pendency of the Ajare's suit was brought to their attention, after the council had accepted service of the suit last Tuesday.The meeting was said to have become more complicated with a letter from the human rights campaigner to the council early Wednesday morning before the commencement of the meeting, warning of dire consequences if the court was overreached.A copy of the letter dated January 31, 2012, addressed to the council secretary was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune.
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