President Buhari approves Justice Akanbi’s compulsory retirement

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the compulsory retirement of Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt division with immediate effect for misconduct.

It was learnt that the President’s approval followed a recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC) after its 74^th meeting, held on November 4 and 5 this year.

NJC’s Acting Director, Information, Soji Oye, who confirmed this in a statement yesterday, said Justice Akanbi was fired over various allegations leveled against him by Shell Petroleum Company Nigeria Limited in its petition to the NJC.

Shell was said to have accused Akanbi of unilaterally appointing one 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.

“He heard and concluded the case without dealing with the Notice of Preliminary Objection on the Jurisdiction of his Court.

“He sat 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.

“The judge also delivered 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.

“Justice Akanbi also dismissed the application to set aside the report prepared by the valuer, CYN – JAC (NIG) LTD and later changed the juling to judgement which prevented the respondent from pursuing the application for stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal.

“That Hon. Justice Akanbi also failed to give a copy of his Ruling delivered on 12^th June, 2013 to the complainant until 28^th June, 2013.

“In the exercise of its constitutional powers, at the same meetings of 4^th and 5^th November, 2015, Council had suspended Hon. Justice Lambo Akanbi from office before the approval for his compulsory retirement by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,” Oye said.

Justice Akanbi featured prominently in the dispute between then Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the NJC over the appointment of a Chief Judge in Rivers State, which led to the closure of the state’s court for over a year.

He gave a judgment which was at variance with the position taken by the NJC in the matter.