High Chief Owolabi Salis: The man who defends the rights of the sitting president
In the world of politics and law in Nigeria, the name of Chief Owolabi Salis resonates as a fierce defender of the rights of the sitting president. A renowned lawyer and accountant, Salis says it is impossible for a court to impeach a sitting president after he is sworn in.
According to Salis, in the Nigerian presidential system, the president occupies two distinct functions: that of chief executive and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. With these roles combined into one person, it becomes extremely difficult for a judge to remove the president from office.
“In many countries using the presidential system, although it is necessary to follow certain written procedures to access the power of president, there is no effective written procedure to access the power of commander-in-chief. You can get it any way you want,” says Salis.
He also points out that when a president leaves the country, he can delegate his powers as chief executive to his vice president, but not those of commander in chief. Indeed, if a sitting president could easily be overthrown in his absence, he would become extremely vulnerable. This is why it is essential for a sitting president to maintain effective control of military leaders and truly be commander in chief.
“Some sitting presidents do not understand this and let certain military commanders act as commander in chief for them. These sitting presidents end up being overthrown,” Salis warns.
It also emphasizes that compliance with the decisions of judges and other bodies of the judiciary is mainly due to the implementing powers transferred from the Commander-in-Chief. Indeed, if a judge pronounces a prison sentence that a person refuses to serve, the judge has no way of directly forcing him to do so. Only implementing powers transferred from the Commander-in-Chief may be used in such cases.
Thus, according to Chief Owolabi Salis, it is essential to recognize the importance of the role of Commander-in-Chief of a sitting President and understand the legal implications that arise from it. Although it is essential to respect judicial decisions, it is important to remember that the legal basis for these decisions lies in the implementing powers of the Commander-in-Chief.
In sum, Chief Owolabi Salis’s perspective sheds interesting light on the Nigerian presidential system and raises crucial questions about the balance of power and responsibilities of the sitting president. His unique legal perspective opens fascinating debates about the complex relationship between the judiciary and executive power.