Written by The fundamental task that faces the outgoing Chief Justice of the Federation, Mr. Katsina-Alu and the newly inaugurated Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Mr. Ibrahim Ndani Auta is what does one expect of a man called MR COCONUT to do to change his image?
The image of a coconut is an image of contradiction. A coconut is brown on the outside and white on the inside.
By virtue of the British colonisation of Nigeria, there is a belief prevalent among some members of the Nigerian Judiciary, and also among some legal practitioners that they are “white” – optical illusion born of mental aberration.
Leave to serve process
Thank Heavens,Justice Salami is a Justice of the people.
Lawyers representing Justice Ayo Salami, President of the Court of Appeal, were granted leave in the Federal High Court to serve process on the recently inaugurated chief judge of the Federal High Court, Ibrahim Ndani Auta, among a long list of Defendants.
The entire Justices of the Supreme Court, including Katsina-Alu, who retires tomorrow (26 August 2011). would also be served with process. All of the members of the National Judicial Council, including their Secretary would receive court process.
Lawyers for Justice Salami are at liberty to use “substituted service” approach to ensure that the process reaches each the Defendants.
The NBA takes a stand
In the meantime, the Nigerian Bar Association in Conference in Port Harcourt, RESOLVED to boycott the courts for 6 months.
The swearing-in of 13 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria which Katsina-Alu stubbornly intends to perform tomorrow, may bring shame and disgrace upon the Judiciary, because the Conference in Port Harcourt forbids its members from attending Katsina-Alu’s self-serving ceremony.
Those members, including the ones to be inaugurated, who breach the Conference Resolution would be removed from the Bar.
Coconut image
The problem with Katsina-Alu is something akin to a personality disorder.
Here is a man who lost a wife in circumstances that are beyond comprehension, and beyond reason. Rather than concentrate his energies on nursing his wounds, he opts for maximum confrontation and destruction of the pillar of justice.
Evil that people do lives after them
The onslaught on the integrity of the Judiciary and Nigeria’s legal profession can be traced to the sort of association that some judges keep.
The Bible says “They shall be known by their Deeds”. There is no equilibrium in the way that Katsina-Alu carries himself.
He has no respect for the Nigerian Bar. And he has no respect for the likes of Justice Salami. And he has no respect for the rule of law. And because he is on his way out, he has no respect for the Nigerian Constitution.
Anger among the Yoruba
Elsewhere on this site i have written that the Yoruba, the Fathers and Mothers of Nigerian Independence, have been marginalised and their contribution being denied.
Of course, Mr. Jonathan would say,as indeed he said during a Meeting with a few Yoruba Elders that he would not tolerate marginalisation of any particular race by his administration.
But the composition of his government points in the direction of marginalisation of the Yoruba race.
The comment attributed to Mr. Jonathan that he is “being made a scapegoat” in the light of recent events, is not credible. A President should not be economical with the truth.
The advertisement put out by PDP on one of the television channels which cast serious aspersions as to the integrity of the Action Congress of Nigeria and Justice Salami, makes a mockery of Article 7, paragraph 7.1 cvii and viii, as follows:
vii – The party (PDP) shall promote an egalitarian society founded on freedom,equality and justice
viii – The party (PDP) shall uphold the independence of the judiciary and the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”
Way out of impasse
President Jonathan is not above the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. He can be sued in the courts, just like any other citizen. He can be sued in his own name –
Vox populi vox Dei
The youths of Lagos State who delivered petitions to the American, Canadian, and British Missions today, are saying in effect that Mr.Jonathan should respect the sovereignty of the people of Nigeria. Sovereignty resides in the people, but not in the government.
The voice of the people is the Voice of God. Mr.Jonathan has a statutory duty to respect the voice of the people of Nigeria.
The PlC Party notwithstanding that it is a UK registered political party, has already petitioned the President, via the good offices of Governor Fashola of Lagos State. We hope that he has received our Petition.
The way out of the impasse is to reverse his own Decision. He made a fundamental error of judgment. To err is human. An apology would not go amiss. In fact, if he reverses his Decision,he would be acclaimed as a president who listens and learns from his mistakes.
My humble advice to Katsina-Alu as he leaves office, is to leave the coconut image which he has carried with him throughout his time on the bench somewhere on the streets of Abuja.
And I hope also that Ibrahim Ndani Auta would do away with the same coconut image, as a preparatory step towards redeeming his name, following his judgment in 1995,which culminated in the hangings of Saro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni people.
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