Summary of Archibong udo v. Cross River State Newspaper Corporation and Anor

Archibong udo v. Cross River State Newspaper Corporation and Anor (right to make representation does not apply to cross examination of witness)

The appellant was sent on a compulsory indefinite leave pending the investigation of an administrative panel of inquiry set up by the government to investigate allegation against the appellant. The administrative panel at the end of its assignment submitted its report exh.11 to the government. The appellant’s case was that the 5 members of the panel were biased against him, the panel did not give him the opportunity to defend himself nor make available any copies of the allegation made against him to him. It must be borne in mind that the panel of inquiry was acting in an administrative capacity. It was not taking evidence on oath and so there was no question of the right to cross-examine witness. It was held that at that stage, the admin body can get information from other source and was not obliged to disclose it to the person to be affected by it although it might be prejudicial to his own case.