Oyinlola’s suit against Salami a revenge – NJC

The National Judicial Council has told an Abuja Federal High Court that a suit in which a former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is seeking to stop the reinstatement of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, is meant to avenge the nullification of the ex-governor’s election in 2010.

The court on Wednesday fixed January 24, 2013 to deliver ruling on the preliminary objections in the suit.

The presiding judge, Justice Abdul Kafarati, fixed the date after hearing the preliminary objections raised by the NJC.

In its counter-affidavit dated June 19, 2012, and deposed to by its Deputy Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye, the NJC told the court that the suit was just a means of retaliation.

“The suit and the pervious suits filed on the same subject by the plaintiff herein and his associates, are the extension of the grudge and grievances arising from the nullification of his election by the Governorship Election Appeal Tribunal in November 2010.

Hence, the suits are mischievous and a witch-hunt against a judicial officer carrying about his judicial function,” the NJC said.

The NJC asked the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the plaintiff lacks the locus-standi to institute the action.

Also, the other defendants in the suit, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke (SAN), in their joint counter-affidavit against the suit, accused Oyinlola of abusing judicial process, even as they equally urged the court to dismiss the suit as lacking in merit.

Meanwhile, Oyinlola had, in an originating summons he filed against the NJC, set out a number of questions for determination by the court.

He asked the court to determine “whether the recommendation of the NJC to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to reinstate Hon. Justice Isa Ayo Salami as the President of the Court of Appeal, is not void considering the pendency of the suit filed by Justice Salami and others on the subject matter of Salami’s removal and suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/209/2012 between Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Osun State Chapter and 2 Others Vs Hon. Justice Isa Ayo Salami & 2 Others.”

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