Jonathan extends acting PCA’s tenure by one year

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has again extended the tenure of the acting President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dalhatu Adamu, by one year.

Adamu, who came into office on August 18, 2011, after the suspension of President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has had his three-month acting tenure renewed four times.

With the extension, Justice Adamu’s tenure is now expected to expire on August 17, 2013.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, confirmed this to our correspondent on Wednesday.

Abati said the President had received the confirmation of the National Judicial Council on the extension of Adamu’s tenure.

He based the President’s decision to again renew Adamu’s tenure on the need to ensure that there is no vacuum in the leadership of the appelate court since issues surrounding Salami’s suspension were still in court.

He said, “Based on confirmation from the NJC, the acting PCA’s tenure will now expire on August 17 next year.

“The President has the power under Section 238 of the Constitution to grant the extension.

“Another reason for the tenure extension is that Justice Salami’s case is still in court and until it is resolved, there cannot be a vacuum in the leadership of the Appeal Court which is very strategic.

“The tenure extension is perfectly in order.”

It will be recalled that the same NJC which recommended Salami’s suspension to the President in 2011, has since recommended his reinstatement.

Despite the calls by stakeholders and opposition parties on the President to respect the NJC’s latest position and reinstate Salami, the Presidency had insisted that it would not reinstate the embattled judge until all court cases surrounding his suspension and reinstatement were disposed of.