Justice-Nigeria - The Nigerian Presidency Thursday explained that President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to retire appeal court president Justice Ayo Salami, as recommended by the National Justice Council (NJC), was taken out of respect for the independence of the judiciary and need to ensure stability in the appellate court.

The NJC recommended Justice Salami's removal as punishment for his refusal to apologise to the Chief Justice of the Federation, Mr. Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, over some judicial matters.

Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Reuben Abati, told journalists at the Presidential Villa here that the President had prevented a vacuum by approving an acting president of the Court of Appeal, saying the President’s critics wanted him to act outside the confines of the law.

Dr. Abati said those criticising the President were selfish.

He noted that the same group of people criticising him now for not allowing a vacuum would be the same group who would accuse him of doing nothing in the face of the crisis in the judiciary.

Abati stated that, “it is the duty of the judiciary, within the framework of the law, to resolve the issue. The action taken by the President were pursuant to the rule of law. The problem is that everyone in Nigeria has turned a judge. And the President has been made a scapegoat. The President has prevented a vacuum.

'The Acting President of the Court of Appeal is there in an acting capacity until all issues are fully resolved.'

Abati added that what the critics failed to realise was that “the principles of independence of the arms of government has to be respected.”

He stated that “the people criticising him (President) are dictating to the President on what to do outside the confines of the law. And the people doing this are doing so for their own selfish interest.”

Pana 26/08/2011