The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) has filed a preliminary objection challenging the  locus standi of a group of 11 lawyers challenging the president’s power to appoint  an acting president of the Court of Appeal following the suspension of the president of the court, Justice Ayo Salami.

Counsel to the federal government argued that the plaintiffs have not shown how the removal of Justice Salami or the appointment of an acting president of the court will be injurious to them.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Jitobo Akanike, however argued that as lawyers and ministers of the temple of justice they have it as a duty to ensure that the sanctity of the judiciary as a separate arm of government is not meddled with as if it is under the executive.

He argued that the role of discipline for erring judicial officers should be left to the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Presiding Judge, Justice Abdullahi Adamu, has fixed January 17 for a definite hearing of the objection filed by the federal government.

Justice Salami was suspended from office after a major disagreement between him and Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, the then Chief Justice of Nigeria last year.