Date: 2013-10-31

A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais on Wednesday said that the National Judicial Council treated the retired President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami unfairly in the way and manner, he (Salami) was suspended.

This was just as Justice Salami himself said that he did not regret all he did that led to his controversial suspension, adding that he has been vindicated by the reports of all the panels set up to investigate him which reported that he had no case to answer.

These revelations came during the presentation of a book in honour of Justice Salami to mark his retirement from the judiciary after 45 years of service, in Abuja.

According to Uwais, "who has the power to suspend Justice Salami from office? Is it the NJC or the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? 
These questions have been the subject of debate by the press, lawyers and the general public. Sometime in April, 2011 I expressed my opinion on the issue in answer to a question by the media in Lagos. Let me now expatiate what informed my answer, that it is the NJC that is vested  with power to suspend a judicial officer ( a judge that is) for misconduct, as a disciplinary measure, and not the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"Section 153 subsection (2) of the 1999 Constitution provides inter alia that the powers of the National Judicial Council are "contained in Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution" paragraph 21 sub paragraph  (b) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule thus -

"21 The National Judicial Council shall have power to- 

(b) recommend to the President the removal from office of the judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers."

"It is to be noted that these provisions are specifically talking about the powers of the NJC and not the power of the President. Suspension from office is an act of discipline.

" It follows that Justice Isa Ayo Salami had been unfairly treated by the NJC, it is disturbing, to say the least, that the NJC, whose membership consists of eminent and experienced judges and lawyers should act in the manner they treated Justice Salami. With his retirement taking effect on the 15th October, 2013 his suspension from office automatically came to an end."

Delivering a key note address on the occassion,  Prof. Wole Soyinka praised the jurist saying the stared authority in the face and dispensed justice without fear or favour.

He added that it is not only disappointing, but an international embarrassment for all the lecturers in the nation to be on strike.

The book reviewer, Prof. Ademola Popoola, former Dean of the Law Faculty of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, also paid glowing tribute to Justice Salami whom he described as a man of great courage, integrity and impeccable character.

The Book; "Isa Ayo Salami: Through Life And Justice", was edited by Funmi Quadri in honour of the retiring jurist and was unveiled at the event by former CJN, Mohammed Uwais alongside another former CJN, Justice Idris Kutigi with support from Justice Bulkachuwa, the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.