Justice Mustapha Akanbi, a former President of the Court of Appeal, on Friday in Ilorin said the reinstatement of Justice Ayo Salami was "a victory for justice and the rule of law".

Akanbi described the decision was a plus to the nation and the judiciary, adding that justice would have been denied if Justice Salami had been left removed. 

"I have also heard that he has been reinstated and I feel very happy and delighted," he said.

"I believe in the final analysis that justice has been done, the rule of law has prevailed and democracy has triumphed. I want to appreciate the committee who did justice to his cause. Everybody knows that Justice Salami is an honest man, a very hard working jurist. Salami has always been championing the cause of justice and fair play."

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kwara Branch, Rafiu Balogun noted that the decision would help sanitise the judicial system.

"The reinstatement is justice done at last. We hope that the president will as a matter of urgency take to the recommendations of the NJC," he said.

"Justice Salami, no doubt, is one of the finest judges and incorruptible in the nation's judicial system. We hope that the face-off that ensued between him and the then Chief Justice of Nigeria would not occur between any CJN and the President of the Court of Appeal in the future."

Balogun commended the NJC decision and promised them the support of his state chapter, adding that the suspension had a political undertone in the first place.

However,  the Special Adviser to Kwara Government on Legal Matters, Mohammed Atolagbe urged his fellow learned colleagues to wait for the President's response before celebrating.

"It is too soon to comment on this issue, we will have to wait for the presidency's reaction and approval of the reinstatement," he said.