THE 28-member judicial reforms panelput in place by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, concluded the first phase of its assignment on Thursday, with strong indications that it had resolved against any extra-judicial means of resolving the controversy surrounding the suspension of the president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for misconduct.While setting the final agenda for the second and final phase of its sittings reportedly set to commence in November, the argument in support of the panel not pre-empting the Federal High Court hearing Salami's suit, which challenged the suspension, was said to have carried the day.A few members of the panel, according to a credible source, had argued in favour of the controversial suspension being discussed and possibly reversed, but the majority was said to have favoured the litigation running its full course.A competent source told the Nigerian Tribune that after an intense debate between members of the panel over Salami, his suspension was reportedly not listed on the panel's agenda at the end of the deliberations.It was also learnt that the panel, headed by a former CJN, Justice Muha-mmad Lawal Uwais, would likely observe about a week break, to allow participants at the annual conference of International Bar holding in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to attend.The break is also expected to cover the sallah celebration, slated to hold on November 6, as the panel is due to resume on Monday, November 7.If the resumption date stays, the panel would have just 11 days more to conclude its assignment, considering that the CJN gave it a November 18 deadline for submission of its report.Meanwhile, Musda-pher has reportedly laun-ched an audit probe into the spendings of the Supreme Court, following petitions against the Chief Registrar of the court, Mr Sunday Olorundahunsi, who is also the Chief Accounting Officer.The directive for the audit, according to a top source, was given by the CJN last Friday, following a meeting with senior officials of the judiciary.Apart from allegations of fraud against Olorunda-hunsi, the petitioners also claimed that he had engaged in appointments which did not follow the laid down rules and due process.After considering the procedure adopted for the said appointments, Musdapher was said to have directed Olorunda-hunsi to immediately disengage the members of staff listed as coming into the system without following the due process.A competent source put the number of the affected members of staff at about 40.When the spokesperson of the court, Mr Festus Akande, was contacted, he claimed that he was away to his village to take care of his ailing mother, adding that he had no knowledge of the development because he was observing a casual leave.Calls put to Olorunda-hunsi's mobile number went unanswered, while the text message sent to him for his comments was yet to be replied at press time.
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