The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest has described call by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for the National Assembly’s intervention in the reinstatement of the suspended President Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami as not only preposterous but criminal, saying; “No responsible institution will risk its reputation for a judge, who committed perjury, an offence that attracts 14 years jail term.”
PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade, who reacted to the ACN statement in a release issued today, said; the ACN was aware of the pendency of not less than five court cases on Salami’s suspension, including the one instituted by Justice Salami himself but was only living up to its hypocritical self by asking the National Assembly to compel the president to over-reach the court.
The party said instead of prevailing on President Jonathan to reinstate Justice Salami, the National Assembly should rather lend its voice to the call for the prosecution of Justice Salami for perjury because involvement of a liar in the administration of justice is a direct invitation to anarchy.
“This is one of the reasons we say these ACN people are incurable hypocrites.
“As at today, there are two recommendations of the National Judicial Council (NJC) on Justice Salami. One was for him to be retired and the other that he be reinstated. The one asking Mr. President to retire him was made last year and the suspended PCA could not be retired because of the case he filed, challenging the recommendation. That case is still pending as at today.
“Again, the NJC report stating that Justice Salami lied on oath, thereby committing perjury is still a subject of various court actions, and no sane individual or organisation would take up the defence a man, who lied on oath not to even talk of a whole Court of Appeal President.
“It is therefore our advise that the ACN and its town criers should come out clearly and tell Nigerians what their interest is in the Justice Salami issue? Why is it that
they are the ones defending the suspended judge, organising protests
and mobilising media support for him?
“Are they not indirectly confirming that Justice Salami actually sold Ekiti and Osun States to the ACN and the party is now paying him back by standing by him during his travails? More so that the travails was occasioned by the ignoble role he played on the two controversial judgments?
“Therefore, it is our call to the National Assembly that it should assist in the cleansing of our judiciary of liars like Justice Salami by making sure that he (Salami) is tried for perjury and sanctioned in accordance with the laws of the land,” PDP said.