President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the compulsory retirement of Justice Charles Efanga Archibong of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, from service with immediate effect.
The approval is sequel to the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) at its emergency meeting, which held on Wednesday 20th February 2013 under the chairmanship of the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar.
Justice Archibong was recommended for compulsory retirement pursuant to the “Findings” of the council on complaints that he dismissed the grievous charges against an accused without taking his plea and that he refused to release the Certified True Copy of his Ruling to the lawyers.
Justice Archibong was also accused of issuing a bench warrant on some officials of Peoples Democratic Party for contempt, even when the counsel who was directed by the court to serve them filed an affidavit on his inability to serve the contempt application.
He also allegedly made unfounded and caustic remarks on professional competence of some Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
“There were glaring procedural irregularities which showed that Hon. Justice Archibong did not have a full grasp of the law and procedure of the Court,” NJC said.
“He granted the leave sought for in the originating summons that had no written address of the parties and without hearing both parties in the originating summons after he had earlier on overruled the preliminary objection.”
The President, also acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, approved the extension of the appointment of Acting President of the Court of Appeal PCA), Hon. Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa, pursuant to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
