EFCC, NBA president petition judge over Akingbola's case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has petitioned the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, over an alleged conduct of Justice Charles Archibong of the court in the suit by former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr Erastus Akingbola.
This came as, the president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, has also petitioned Justice Auta, questioning the conduct of Justice Archibong in the same case.


Daudu, who is lead counsel to the EFCC, had on Wednesday,  walked out on Justice Archibong in protest over a ruling dismissing EFCC’s application for stay of proceedings in the fundamental rights suit by Akingbola against the EFCC.
The commission in a petition by its Chairman, Mrs Farida Waziri, disagreed with the conduct of the judge as it relates to matters it was prosecuting in connection with former bank chiefs.
EFCC accused Justice Archibong of undue interest and manifest bias in favour of the bank chiefs in proceedings before the court, which it claimed was demonstrated on May 18, 2011 in one of the related matters, where it lead counsel, Mr Dauda, led.
According to commission, “in view of the judge’s manifest and unconcealed interests in the Akingbola case and other EFCC matters, his compromised stance cannot ensure justice in the matters.”
EFCC noted that since the judge had held the EFCC in contempt, he should excuse himself from all EFCC matters or be excused.
The commission in the petition said, “it is with the greatest reluctance but with a high sense of responsibility to the institution for the administration of justice as represented by the judiciary that I write this petition as a strong objection to the serial conducts of Justice Archibong as it relates to matters being prosecuted by our Commission in connection with erstwhile bank chiefs.
“The anti climax of his undue interests and manifest bias in favour of the bank chiefs in proceedings before the court was graphically demonstrated on May 18, 2011 in one of the related matters,  where our lead counsel Dauda, SAN led.
The facts are already before you vide a petition and we will not bore you by repeating them. For the records,  however, we attach a copy for ease of reference.
“The above mentioned matter is still before Justice Archibong  and will be coming up on May 20, 2011. In view of his manifest and unconcealed interests in Dr. Akingbola and obviously other EFCC matters, we regret to say that his compromised stance cannot ensure justice in these matters. On the contrary, his continued participation in these matters will bring the administration of justice to doubt,” EFCC added.

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