By Bartholomew Madukwe

Precisely on October 15, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, the immediate past President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) clocked the 70 years mandatory retirement age for justice of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

That date however fell on the 2013 Eid–el-kabir public holiday. According to an impeccable source close to the Court of Appeal (CA), arrangement has been concluded  for a befitting valedictory Court session scheduled to take place today in honour of Justice Salami.

Part of the arrangements was a book launch yesterday, chaired by Justice Muhammed Uwais, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, in honour of the eminent jurist who served the nation.

These programmes would afford Salami, the time and opportunity to talk like a lawyer and vindicate himself as if he were to be in a law court.

Salami, who had rendered his services to the nation, had declined for good reason to be appointed to the Supreme Court, saying that he preferred to remain in the Court of Appeal where he continued until he retired.

Salami took over from Justice Umaru Abdullahi, who first mooted the idea of computerising the Court of Appeal. but it was Salami that worked tirelessly towards the execution of the e-court project, following his appointment on December 2, 2009 as the Acting PCA.

It is also to his credit that more divisions of the Court Appeal were created during his tenure as the PCA.

Salami retired just like his worthy predecessors, who in spite of their experiences, retired as Presidents of the Court of Appeal with their honour and reputation unsullied. Although, he still has a case in court challenging his suspension, which has now turned to a mere academic exercise.

The retired jurist should be credited with the creation of more divisions of the Court of Appeal during his tenure.

Justice Salami was born on October 15, 1943 in Ganma, Kwara State. He was enrolled in Lyeru Okin African Church School, Offa in 1949. There he moved on to St. Cyprians Catholic School, Offa, and later Offa Grammar School. Salami then attended Provincial Secondary School (Rumfa College), Kano, from where he graduated in 1963.

By the following year Salami had enrolled in the Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He attended that prestigious University for nearly three years and continued on to Nigerian Law School, Lagos from 1967-1968. During this time, Salami proved to be an advanced student who quickly earned a Bachelor of Law (LL.B). Salami also served as the Offa Grammar School Senior Prefect and held offices at Rumfa College and the Institute of Administration.

After completing this highly distinguished educational career, Salami was admitted to the Nigerian Bar on June 28, 1968. He started off as a Collector of Customs and Excise Grade II, and by 1971 was transferred to North Central State Public Service Commission to serve as State Counsel Grade II.

In a few years Salami moved up to become Senior State Counsel Grade I and then Acting Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Kaduna. From there he was transferred to Kwara State Public Service, and started as Senior State Counsel Grade I.

He latere served in different honourable positions. In 1976 Salami was Acting Director of Public Prosecution, and by the following year had advanced to Deputy Director. He concurrently held the position of Acting Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Ilorin till 1978.

Justice Salami served diligently in each of his many enviable capacities, and his career continued to grow. He became Judge of High Court of Justice in 1978 and served in that esteemed office for several years. By 1988, Salami had become the Presiding Justice, Benin for the Court of Appeal, then moved on to Presiding Justice, Kaduna before ending up as the Presiding Justice, Lagos, where he retired at the age of 70.