The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has directed the Judicial Service Committee, JSC, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to commence disciplinary action against a Judge of the Upper Area Court that issued a criminal summons for a former governor of the central bank of Nigeria, Prof Charles Soludo.
According to reports, the judge, Gambo Garba, who presides over the Upper Area Court at Zuba, had on August 23, issued a direct criminal Summons against Soludo over a case of alleged perjury, corruption and false assets declaration that was filed against him by one Oliver Bitrus.
The litigant had alleged that Soludo serially breached the Code of Conduct for Public Officers while he held office as Governor of the CBN, between May 29,2004 and May 29,2009.
Acting on the suit, the Upper Area Court judge issued criminal summons against Soludo who is currently a Governorship aspirant in Anambra state.
According to law, charges bordering on false declaration of asses are exclusively vested in the Code of Conduct Tribunal but the Upper Area Court Judge assumed jurisdiction contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
A source in the office of the CJN said that the Acting Chief Judge of the FCT , Hussein Baba Yusuf, the chairman of JSC, is expected to submit findings of the Committee on the matter, within 21 days.
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