By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA — Hopes of the embattled President of the Court of Appeal, PCA, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, to promptly return to office was dashed yesterday, following the inability of a Federal High Court in Abuja to commence hearing on any of the suits challenging the propriety of his suspension by the National Judicial Council, NJC, and the subsequent appointment of an Acting President of the Court of Appeal by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Hearing on the three separate motions he filed before the High Court suffered a setback, yesterday, due to the absence of most of the defendants in court.


KATSINA-ALU & SALAMI

Whereas it was only the NJC that had a legal representation in court yesterday, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu; Deputy Chairman of the NJC, Justice Musdapher Dahiru; Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke Bello, SAN, as well as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, were absent among others.

Adducing reasons for their absence, counsel to the NJC, Mr. Aliyu Sarki, who held the brief of Mr. Lawal Rabana, SAN, insisted that the plaintiff, Salami, failed to serve the requisite court processes and hearing date on all the necessary parties to the suit.

When the case was called up yesterday, lead counsel to the plaintiff, who is a former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, informed the court that his client had three separate applications, stressing that the 1st to 4th defendants were dully served with the processes.

Reacting to the request, counsel to the NJC, Mr Sarki, contended that it would be in the interest of justice for the case to be adjourned, noting that apart from non-service of the court papers on most of the parties, that they are equally entitled to seven days to file their defences.

After listening to their submissions, the trial judge, Justice Okorowo, told the plaintiff to file a formal application for substituted service, adding that the suits were not ripe for hearing since not all the parties were served.

Consequently, he adjourned the case till September 7 for mention.



Protesters storm Abuja

Meantime, over 500 protesters under the aegis of The National Frontiers, TNF, yesterday, stormed Abuja with placards, condemning the suspension of Justice Salami by the NJC and the haste with which President Goodluck Jonathan appointed acting PCA despite the subsisting court action.

Their peaceful demonstration, however, went awry after policemen swooped on them, arrested some of the protesters and whisked them to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command for interrogation.

It was gathered that the protesters besieged the main gate leading to the National Assembly, without firstly securing security clearance.

Leaders of the group, Mr Eze Nwagwu and the outgoing President of the National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, Comrade Etuk Williams, said their intention was to hand over their protest letter to the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, with a view to expressing their displeasure over the poor handling of the CJN and Salami affair.


[url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/absence-of-cjn-adoke-auta-others-stall-hearing-on-salami%E2%80%99s-suit/]Source[/url]

I knew right from the very beginning that this case will not see day light

Katsina-Alu is leaving the Nigerian judiciary permanently in a few short days. It seems silly to have sued him, but I believe it was all for show. Salami's goose is cooked.
Both he and Katsina-Alu have no place in the judiciary, its not a place for learned men to grapple like kids with no concern for the image of Nigeria.

I am baffled that you are not in support of the 2 men, especially Katsina Alu

blink182:

I am baffled that you are not in support of the 2 men, especially Katsina Alu

I hate such daft comments. Are you my creator?