Former Court of Appeal President Justice Isa Ayo Salami received the 2025 Human Rights Defender Award from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism on Tuesday in Ilorin.
Founder Dapo Olorunyomi and Executive Director Motunrayo Alaka presented the honour at his home. Justice Ayo Salami used the occasion to speak about judicial standards in Nigeria.
Justice Ayo Salami attributed mistakes in recent cases to incompetence among some judges. He noted that several lacked strong legal backgrounds or experience. Moreover, he pointed out that population growth and new law faculties contributed to the problem.
Justice Ayo Salami added that appointments sometimes ignored excellence and placed unqualified people on the bench. He stressed that these issues led to flawed verdicts, even at the Supreme Court level.
For instance, Justice Ayo Salami stated that Peter Obi should not have contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party.
He explained the reason clearly. “For instance, Peter Obi ought not be allowed to contest the 2023 presidential election. In this sense, by the time he lost the PDP primary, LP had submitted its list of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission. And the Constitution says there cannot be an independent candidacy, so how did he become a candidate of the LP if he does not belong to the LP?”
Additionally, Justice Ayo Salami compared the situation to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf. He said Yusuf’s name was absent from the New Nigeria Peoples Party register when the party issued him a membership card.
Justice Ayo Salami recalled that the tribunal and Appeal Court rejected the arrangement, yet the Supreme Court allowed it. He described such outcomes as clear signs of competence gaps on the bench.
Justice Ayo Salami warned that promotions to the Supreme Court often followed zonal vacancies rather than merit. He hoped time would correct these flaws.
He also praised the Wole Soyinka Centre and credited Chief Obafemi Awolowo for inspiring his own legal career. The event ended with Justice Ayo Salami expressing gratitude for the recognition of judicial integrity.
