On February 26, we told you that the Supreme Court ordered the reinstatement of sacked Court of Appeal Registrar. Read here
However, in this report from the Nation Newspaper, it would appear that the Court of Appeal is overriding the directives of the Supreme Court.
According to the Nation, the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has overridden the judgment of the Supreme Court ordering the Court of Appeal to, among others, reinstate its Chief Registrar, Bode Thomas.
In the judgment delivered on February 16, the Supreme Court ordered Thomas’ immediate reinstatement, payment of his outstanding salaries and allowances, among others.
Rather than obey, the FJSC directed Thomas to proceed on 300 days accumulated compulsory leave.
The Nation, last Friday, sighted a copy of the March 9 letter, which was copied the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.
Justice Bulkachuwa minuted on the copy sighted by The Nation. She directed the head of the Court of Appeal’s Accounts Department to act on the letter.
The letter, which also directed Thomas to resume duties on January 2, 2019, few weeks to his retirement, acknowledged the Supreme Court’s judgment.
It says while he is reinstated, Thomas should proceed on his accumulated leave.
Although Thomas, his lawyers and officials of the Court of Appeal and FJSC refused to comment on the legality of FJSC’s decision, The Nation found that the directive that Thomas proceeds on an accumulated leave offends both the Public Service Rules and the FJSC Regulations.
Is this a compliance with the order of court? and if it is not, can we say the Supreme Court has been disobeyed?
[espro-slider id=17536]