Aftermath of the National Judicial Council (NJC) suspension and recommendation for compulsory retirement of Justice Charles Archibong, an Abuja based group, Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN) has told the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) to apologise to the Segun Oni-led South-West Zonal Executives Committee, the Ogun State Exco, National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha, that were sacked purportedly in compliance with the judgment of Justice Archibong.
The group said with the NJC suspension and recommendation for compulsory retirement of Justice Archibong on the basis of his unethical conduct on the Ogun State PDP cases, the basis of which the Dr. Bamanga Tukur-led PDP NWC sacked Prince Oyinlola, Chief Bode Mustapha, the Oni-led South-West Exco and the Senator Dipo Odujinrin-led Ogun State Exco, the PDP NWC must be honourable enough to apologise for acting on a judgment that was obtained fraudulently.
Reacting to the decision of the National Judicial Council (NJC), recommending sack of two controversial top Nigerian judges, SRLN said in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Chima Ubeku that; “the NJC must also take another look at the alleged unethical conduct of the suspended President Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, more so that he was indicted in the Police Report released on February 8, 2013.”
SRLN said; “Justice Charles Archibong, the judge, who gave the controversial Judgements/Orders purportedly relied on by the NWC was sacked by the NJC partly because of his ignoble roles in the Ogun State PDP matter.
“The NJC accused him (Archibong) of issuing a bench warrant on some officials of the 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.
“Need we say more about the character of Justice Archibong and the fraudulent manner in which judgments were obtained from him.
“In the light of this, can the PDP continue to hold on to Justice Archibong’s judgment as basis for sacking Oyinlola, Mustapha, the South-West and Ogun State Exco? That is assuming that the judgments had not been Stayed by a superior court.
“Therefore, won’t it be honourable for the Tukur-led NWC to rescind its decision and apologise for the embarrassment caused the party and those affected by its actions that were based on a corruption induced judgment?”
While calling on the NJC to dismiss Justice Salami, the group said; “If Justice Thomas Naron, whose alleged telephone interaction with PDP lawyer was not investigated by any security agency was sanctioned so heavily, we are waiting for what NJC will do on the case of Justice Salami, whose unethical telephone interactions with Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftains during the pendency of the Ekiti and Osun States governorship elections appeal has been proved via the report of police investigation of the scam.”
The group called for stiffer penalties against corrupt judges, saying; “If Nigerians must begin to respect the judiciary, all these cash-n-carry judges must be sent to jail.
“It shouldn’t just be mere retirement because they could have envisaged the premature retirement and corruptly acquired enough fund to last them throughout their lifetime.”
