The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lambasted former President
\nof the
\nCourt of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, for distorting facts and attempting
\nplay the
\nvictim over the events that led to his suspension and eventual removal
\nfrom office,
\nas president of the appeal court.<\/p>\n
The party expressed disgust at Salami’s manipulate facts even in the face
\nof damning
\nevidences against him including the testimony of MTN Nigeria which
\nadmitted in an
\nopen court.<\/p>\n
Recall that the former PCA retired on October 15, 2013 on attainment of the
\nstatutory 70 years old required for retirement. He until his retirement
\nwas serving
\na suspension placed on him by the National Judicial Council following a
\ndisagreement
\nhe had with a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius
\nKatsina-Alu, over
\nthe case of the Democratic Peoples Party at the Sokoto Appeal Panel in 2010.<\/p>\n
However, speaking at the launch of his book last week entitled \u201cIsa Ayo
\nSalami:
\nThrough Life and Justice,\u201d Salami said he had no regrets for refusing to
\npervert the
\ncourse of justice, as he was allegedly instructed by the former CJN, Justice
\nKatsina-Alu, even though the development led to his suspension from office.<\/p>\n
But the PDP in a statement fired back at the former President of Court of
\nAppeal
\nJustice for trying to play the victim instead of quietly returning to his
\nhome.
\nThe party further upbraided Salami for choosing to betray the institution
\nand his
\ncolleagues and cast aspersions on highly revered judicial figures such
\nas Justices Katsina-Alu and Dahiru Musdapher who served Nigeria
\nmeritoriously.<\/p>\n
The statement read “Our attention has been drawn to comments by the former
\nPresident
\nof the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, which tended to paint him in
\nthe mould
\nof a victim and cast aspersion on eminent Nigerians including President
\nGoodluck
\nJonathan, revered judicial officials and the
\ninstitution of the judiciary.<\/p>\n
“In his comments, Justice Salami attempted to distort facts and history,
\nan action capable of misleading the country, hence it became pertinent
\nthat we put the records straight.<\/p>\n
“Contrary to what the opposition linked media would like the public to
\nbelieve, it would be recalled that the National Judicial Council (NJC),
\nthe supreme juristic body in Nigeria, found Justice Salami guilty of
\nhaving perjured himself and lying against the then Chief\u00a0 Justice of
\nNigeria Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.<\/p>\n
“It is public knowledge that the Council suspended Justice Salami
\nfollowing his refusal to abide by its directive to apologize to Justice
\nKatsina-Alu. Furthermore, in exercise of its powers under our laws, the
\nNJC not only suspended Justice Salami, but recommended to President
\nJonathan that he should retire him immediately.<\/p>\n
“It is also public knowledge that President Jonathan, being a man
\ngoverned by the Rule of Law, refused to take sides or interfere in the
\nmatter and chose to allow the judiciary sort out its complications in
\nthe Salami affairs, more so as Justice Salami had gone to court to
\nchallenge the findings of the NJC.<\/p>\n
“This is even in the face of damning evidences against Justice Salami
\nincluding the testimony of MTN Nigeria which admitted in an open court
\nthat call
\nlogs tendered in evidence were in fact true records of a
\nseries of calls between leaders of the defunct Action Congress of
\nNigeria (ACN) and Justice Salami who presided over the Court of Appeal
\nthat over-turned governorship elections in Osun, Ekiti and Edo States in
\nfavour of the ACN<\/p>\n
“The fact that President Jonathan did not retire Justice Salami as
\nrecommended by the NJC is a stand for which Justice Salami should be
\ngrateful to the President who decide to be neutral in the matter.<\/p>\n
“Instead of quietly returning to his home, Justice Salami has chosen to
\nplay the victim. However, Nigerians are no fools. Justice Salami\u2019s
\npublic romance with the beneficiaries of the controversial ruling of his
\nCourt, including governors who won their seats by virtue the ruling and
\nas other ACN chieftains at his book launch recently, openly betrays the
\nhidden facts regarding the handling of the election appeals under him.
\nThis clearly raises issues regarding his culpability by association to
\npervert the course of justice in the issue.<\/p>\n
“It is highly unfortunate that after spending about 45 years in the
\njudiciary, Justice Salami will chose to betray the institution and his
\ncolleagues and cast aspersions on highly revered judicial figures such
\nas Justices Katsina-Alu and Dahiru Musdapher who served Nigeria
\nmeritoriously and were not known to align themselves with politicians
\nwhether in secret or in private as in the case of Justice Salami who now
\nsits with his accomplices in the defunct ACN and try to mar their
\nrecords of service to the nation.<\/p>\n
“Furthermore, Nigerians should note that under the administration of
\nPresident Goodluck Jonathan, Separation of Powers and respect for the Rule
\nof Law
\nhave been the hallmark such that there have been no
\nExecutive\/Legislative face off and court judgments have been obeyed.
\nAlso, elections under this administration have been free, fair and
\ncredible and have resulted in an over 100 percent reduction in election
\npetition cases.<\/p>\n
“Our candid advice to Justice Salami is that it is impossible to gain the
\nconfidence of new friends by betraying old friends.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lambasted former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, for distorting facts and attempting play the victim over the events that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n