Ekiti guber: Falana calls for Justice Salami’s reinstatement

[Mirror]

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has called for the reinstatement of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, following the verdict of the Supremem Court, which yesterday threw out the appeal filed by former governor of Ekiti State, Engr. Segun Oni.

Reacting to the apex court ruling yesterday, Falana said that but for the moral laxity in the country, lawyers engaged by Oni for the appeal, who knew that before now, governorship election matters end at the Court of Appeal, but chose to just belabour the court should have been sanctioned.

His words: "Once again, the position of the Court of Appeal, with respect to the finding of Justice Isa Ayo Salami, has again been confirmed by the court today.

"With this, and the fact that Justice Salami has been investigated and exonerated by those who are empowered by law to do that, there is no basis for keeping him out of office." Incumbent governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi also yesterday applauded the judiciary for upholding truth and justice.

Fayemi said he received the decision with relief mixed with indifference. His exact words: "Indeference, because I was not surprised. And because I believe that the judiciary in Nigeria is not as desecrated in the manner it has been demonised.

"I believe the judiciary is still the last bastion for those, who feel cheated and oppressed in the country. "So, I had no problem with Mr Oni and his party going to court, in the first instance, to seek judicial reprieve. After all, I went to court and I got my mandate back via the court. "So, there was no issue with that.

But, I think there is a difference between seeking judicial reprieve to correct a wrong done and taking the judiciary on a wild goose chase, on a frivolous petition. He canvassed the establishment of an electoral offences commission to punish electoral offenders and deter people who, not only manipulate electoral process, but file frivolous application to clog judicial process.

"Oni would not have had the temerity to do this if he had been convicted for rigging an election," Fayemi said.

National Mirror