NJC Recommends Sack Of Two Judges

The National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday in Abuja announced the “immediate” suspension of two judges pending a decision by President Goodluck Jonathan on its recommendation that they be retired for alleged judicial misconduct.

They are Justices Charles.E. Archibong and Thomas D. Naron of Federal High Court, Lagos, and Plateau State High Court, Jos, respectively.

This is contained in a statement signed by the NJC’s acting Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye.

The statement said the decision was taken at the council’s emergency meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar.

According to the statement: “Hon. Justice Archibong was recommended for compulsory retirement to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, 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 for contempt even when the counsel who was directed by the court to serve them an affidavit 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 Archibong did not have a full grasp of the law and procedure of the court.

“That he granted the leave sought 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.’’

On Naron, the statement said there were constant and regular voice calls and exchange of MMS and SMS (text) messages between the judge and one of the lead counsels.

“ (The communication was) for one of the parties to the suit in the Osun State Gubernatorial Election Tribunal.’’

The statement added that his action was contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers vide Section 292 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“The National Judicial Council has in the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution suspended the two judges from office with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, the NJC has set up a committee to investigate allegations against Justice Abubakar Talba of FCT High Court in the police pension case of EFCC vs Mr John Yusuf.

Talba had on January 28 sentenced Assistant Director, Police Pension Board, John Yusuf, to two years’ imprisonment for his role in the theft of N20 billion of pension funds.

In his judgment, Talba ordered Yusuf to forfeit the sum of N325 million to the Federal Government.

Talba further said that the convict must forfeit a total of 32 of his properties to the government.

He also ordered Yusuf to remit a fine of N750,000 to the Federal Government treasury, the amount being the total of the N250,000 fine imposed for each of the three count-charge.

“The convict has actually assisted the court by confessing to have taken N3 billion as his share from the N20 billion leading to this summary trial.

“This shows that the convict has a measure of virtue left in him. The court has in this regard found him guilty as charged.

L-R NDDC MD, Dr. Christian Oboh, Sen. Nurudeen Usman and Sen. James Manager, Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, shortly after inspecting the Oquo-Ibeano road in Akwa-Ibom State, yesterday.