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A group of lawyers has called for the immediate resignation of
both the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Aloysius Katsina-Alu and President of
the Court of Appeal, Ayo Salami to allow the judicial panel of inquiry into
cases of allegations against them to do its work.

The convener of the group, Malachy Ugwummadu, at a protest held
in front of the High Court of Justice, Ikeja said the continuous stay of the
two judges in the position of leadership is an opportunity for them to scuttle
justice and cover up the dirty details behind proofs of the allegations.

“Our claims and predictions is in full realisation and
recognition of the composition of the judiciary. As a self regulatory body, the
Nigerian judiciary is structured and configured in such a manner that the
identified principal actors are both in the leadership of virtually all the
relevant regulatory institutions and organs of the judiciary as chairman and
member respectively. By virtue of Section 12 (a)(b)and section 20(a)(c) 0f Part
A of the Third schedule of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1999, the CJN is the chairman of both Federal Judicial Service commission and
National Judicial Council, while the PCA is also a high ranking member of both
bodies just as they occupy similar strategic position in the legal
practitioners’ Privileges committee as well as the National Judicial Institute.

“These are the institutions that have the statutory
responsibility to self regulate the affairs of the judiciary particularly
regarding discipline and control. It is therefore evident that no meaningful
investigation, probe or inquiry can go on with their continued stay as the CJN
and PCA respectively,” he said.

One of the Lawyers, Ubani Monday said: “We the concerned members
of this profession now call on those involved to step aside from their respective
offices forthwith to allow for a full scale independent judicial panel of
inquiry comprising men and women of proven integrity and character to be headed
by a retired jurist in the calibre of Justice Chukwudifu Oputa or Justice
Kayode Eso.” He said.

The group however commended the intervention of the Nigeria Bar
Association for resolving to also investigate the allegations. The crisis
started after Mr Katsina-Alu in his capacity as the Chief Justice of the
Federation promoted Mr Salami from his present position of the President of the
Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court.

In Mr Salami’s rejection letter dated February 4, 2011, Mr Salami claimed
that he was moved to the Supreme Court with an aim to replace him with Mr
Katsina-Alu’s stooge. He stated that, “I prefer to follow in the wake of my
worthy predecessors who in spite of their experiences retired as Presidents of
the Court of Appeal with their honour and reputation unsullied. The present
unholy move to push me out of the Appeal Court for whatever reason has no
precedence in our legal history.” Mr. Salami said.