President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the immediate retirement of Justice Charles Archibong, following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The NJC on Thursday February 21st, recommended to President Goodluck Jonathan the compulsory retirement of Justice Archibong of the Federal High court Lagos and Justice Thomas Naron of the High Court of Justice Plateau State.
Speaking to state house correspondents, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke said that the fight against corruption can only get a firm root when the entire judicial system is cleansed.
Justice Archibong was recommended for compulsory retirement pursuant to the ‘findings” by the council on the following complaints levelled against him:
• that the judge dismissed the grievous charges against an accused without taking his plea;
• that he refused to release the certified true copy of his ruling to the lawyers;
• that the judge issued a bench warrant on some officials of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for contempt even when the counsel who was directed by the court to serve them filed an affidavit that he had not been able to serve the contempt application;
• that he made unfounded and caustic remarks on professional competence of some Senior Advocates of Nigeria;
• that there were glaring procedural irregularities which showed that he did not have a full grasp of the law and procedure of the court; and
• that 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 overruled the preliminary objection.
