Justice For All Nations, a US-based non-governmental organization has accused the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of aiding and abetting corruption in the Nigeria Judiciary.
“The spirited defense being put up against the trial of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, for perjury is a pointer to the fact that the ACN and its allies have interests that are beyond the sustenance of rule of law in the country.”
The group alleged that apart from the protection of Justice Salami because of his role in the Ekiti and Osun election cases, the ACN is also pursuing the Salami-must-return agenda because of its planned takeover of Bayelsa State, through the case instituted by former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva on his candidature of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
JFAN said in a statement issued today by its Coordinator, Dr Dada Popoola that President Goodluck Jonathan must not allow himself to be blackmailed by the ACN on the issue of Justice Salami, adding that “Any individual or group trying to circumvent the due process of the law on the matter should be treated as part of the cancer eating the Nigeria judiciary.”
“From our findings, the ACN and its allies are not only vehement in their defence of Justice Salami because of the roles the judge played in the Osun and Ekiti election appeal cases, but are looking forward to having Justice Salami back as the head of the Appeal Court so as to play the same role he played on Ekiti and Osun States on the Bayelsa State election dispute.
“The pact that they have with the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva is to use Justice Salami to return him (Sylva) as the candidate of the PDP, after which Sylva will decamp to the ACN,” the group alleged.
The group further said; “by the Editorial Comment of the ACN owned newspaper, The Nation of yesterday, Sunday, February 19, 2012 in which former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni was castigated for seeking an Order of Mandamus, compelling the Attorney General of the
Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), to commence criminal prosecution of Justice Salami for giving false evidence on oath, the ACN has further demonstrated that it has interests other than the protection of the judiciary and rule of law.”
It said it was a surprise that any group or individual could be at the forefront of the return of a judge, who by the evidence of the CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher before the NJC Probe Panel lied on oath.