Buhari approves compulsary retirement of Justice Lambo Akanbi

Justice Lambo Akanbi, of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, has been retired compulsorily, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

This came after the National Judicial Council which found the judge guilty of violating the code of conduct for judicial officers.

In a statement , 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 levelled 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.