by Rachel Ogbu

President Goodluck Jonathan has endorsed the sacking of Justice Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court, Lagos after the National Judicial Council, NJC asked him to do so last week.

He had delivered a controversial judgment many described as embarrassing to the judiciary after he condemned five Senior Advocates of Nigeria while prosecuting the former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Erastus Akingbola who re-appears in court today.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, after a meeting with Jonathan on Monday announced that Archibong’s retirement was with immediate effect.

According to reports, Adoke said the President’s belief that his administration’s anti-graft war would be more effective with the cleansing of corrupt officials in the judiciary made the decision necessary.

“This is to inform you that President Goodluck Jonathan is in receipt of a proposal from the National Judicial Council recommending the compulsory retirement of Justice Charles Archibong and Mr. President has approved that it should take immediate effect.

“It is Mr. President’s belief that once we are able to cleanse the judiciary of corruption, then our fight against corruption in its entirety will take a firm root and will be on its way to success,” Adoke added.

News of President Jonathan’s approval of the sack came as the NJC still awaits the Plateau State Government’s action on the sacking of Justice Thomas Naron of the state High Court accused also of gross misconduct.

The NJC on Thursday had asked Jonathan and Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State to fire the two justices.

The Punch reports:

While NJC’s wrath fell on Naron following his handling of the governorship tussle between former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Archibong’s sin followed his condemnation of five Senior Advocates of Nigeria prosecuting the former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Erastus Akingbola.

Meanwhile, a source told our one of our correspondents that the NJC had not formally informed the Plateau State Government of the decision to fire Naron.

He added that the decision was only advisory.

The source said, “There are lot of issues involved in the NJC order and the state government needs to be very careful before acting. First, the governor has to seek legal opinion before taking any action.

“Moreover there should be a formal communication from the NJC to the state government and I am not very sure that has been done. Justice Naron is an employee of the state government and I do not know if the order is binding on the state government. ”

Efforts to get the Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Edward Pwajok, to speak on the issue were not successful. He did not pick the calls put to him by our correspondent.

Also, a statement from the NJC Acting Director, Information, Mr. Soji Oye, said Jonathan had approved the extension of the tenure of the Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.