President Muhammadu Buhari has retired Justice Lambo Akanbi,
of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt ,
compulsorily.
This came after the National Judicial Council which found
the judge guilty of violating the code of conduct for judicial officers.
According to source - the acting
Director of Information at the NJC, Mr. Soji Oye, said the NJC had at its 74th
meeting which held earlier in the month considered various allegations leveled
against the judge by Shell Petroleum Company Nigeria Limited. The council had
suspended Justice Akanbi from office before the president approved his
compulsory retirement.
The allegations against Justice Akanbi in the Shell petition
include:
•Unilaterally appointing Mr. Emeka Nkwo of CYN-JAC (NIG) LTD
who was not proposed by any of the parties as referee or valuer in Suit Nos FHC/PH/CS/434/2012
and FHC/PH/CS/435/2012. He also appointed the same referee or valuer in Suit
FHC/PH/CS/25/2003, which is another matter involving one of the parties in the
first suit.
•Hearing and concluding the case without dealing with the
Notice of Preliminary Objection on the Jurisdiction of his Court.
•Sitting on the case in the Federal High Court, Yenagoa in
Suit FHC/YNG/CS/30/2013 after a new judge had been transferred to the State
without a fiat from the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
•Delivering the ruling in Suit No FHC/PH/CS/07/2009 four
months after final addresses were taken without any cogent reason, contrary to
the constitutional provisions that judgment should be delivered within a period
of 90 days.
•Dismissing the application to set aside the report prepared
by the valuer, CYN – JAC (NIG) LTD, and later changing the ruling to judgement,
which prevented the respondent from pursuing the application for stay of
proceedings at the Court of Appeal.
•Failing to give a copy of his ruling, delivered on 12th June 2013 , to the complainant
until 28th June 2013 .
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