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Aloysius
Katsina-Alu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), yesterday ended the
controversy surrounding his retirement age by announcing that he would
step down in August this year at the age of 70.

In a press statement, he sought to clarify his position on when he would statutorily step down.

“For the purpose of
keeping the records straight, Katsina-Alu was born on August 28, 1941
and he is due for retirement on 28 August, 2011 when he will clock 70
years.

“There has never
been any controversy over this, as all his records from the date of
birth through all the institutions he attended vis-à-vis the various
organisations he has worked before being elevated to the office of the
Chief Justice of Nigeria have never been different from what they have
always been,” the statement read.

The present
controversy may not be unconnected to the recent saga which involved
the unexpected elevation and reversal of the president of the Court of
Appeal, Ayo Salami. In a move seen to have political undertones, Mr.
Salami had accused the Chief Justice of trying to remove him from
office.

Mr. Salami, in a
letter addressed to Mr. Katsina-Alu, who is also the chairman of the
National Judicial Council, alleged that his planned removal was
initiated during meetings of the Federal Judicial Service Commission
held on February 1 and 2 while he was away at Ilroin, Kwara State.

In the letter,
dated February 4, and addressed to Mr. Katsina-Alu, Mr. Salami alleged
that the action was a validation of months of rumours of his planned
ousting which he had then dismissed as “talk shop gossip” originating
from mischief makers.

Mr. Salami had
dragged Mr. Katsina-Alu and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to a
Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging his unprecedented elevation to
the Supreme Court.

Mr. Katsina-Alu was
reacting to a recent publication over the actual date for his
retirement. This follows perceived discrepancy in the prescribed date
and procedure for his retirement, vis-à-vis, and the convention in the
nation’s judicial system.

Records at the apex
court indicate that the incumbent CJN who was appointed on December 31,
2009, is expected to leave office on August 28, this year.

But observers note
that going by tradition, his tenure is due to elapse by May 28, when he
would have reached the official retirement age of 70 years, as
stipulated for justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal by
the constitution.