SALAMI GUILTY OF GROSS MISCONDUCT - NJC

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has pronounced the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, guilty of gross misconduct for making false allegations against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu over the Sokoto gubernatorial appeal.

Accordingly, the council, which described Salami's conduct as contrary to Rule 1(1) of the Code of Conduct for Judiciary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has directed him to, within one week, apologise to Justice Katsina-Alu and the entire members of the council in writing.

The position of the NJC has lent credence to Daily Sun report of July 28, that the NJC probe panel exonerated Justice Katsina-Alu and indicted Justice Salami of perjury for lying on oath.

The NJC took the decisions at the end of its emergency meeting in Abuja where members deliberated on the two separate reports of its committees on the allegations levelled against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, the President, Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, OFR and some justices of the Court of Appeal.

While exonerating the CJN of any complicity on the issue, the council found that Justice Katsina-Alu 'acted in good faith and was motivated by the apparent urge to protect the administration of justice and avoid breach of peace when directed that the judgment in the Sokoto gubernatorial appeal be 'put on hold' pending the investigation of the petitions he had received on the matter.'

Justice Salami had in a law suit filed against the CJN before a Federal High Court alleged in his sworn affidavit that he was approached by the CJN to compromise the Court of Appeal's judgment on the Sokoto governorship battle.