By Kassim Omomia
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has ordered the Judicial Service Committee, JSC, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to discipline Gambo Garba, a judge of the Upper Area Court who issued criminal summons against a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Charles Soludo.
Soludo is the governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.
The erring judge presides over the Upper Area Court at Zuba.
Garba 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 Oliver Bitrus.
Bitrus filed his complaints according to sections 88 and 89 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, alleging that the former CBN governor violated the Code of Conduct for Public Officers while he was Governor of the CBN, between May 29, 2004, and May 29, 2009.
He accused the former governor of acquiring a property in the UK by proxy, among others.
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Following the criminal complaints, the Area Court judge issued criminal summons against Soludo.
Recall that only last week seven chief judges were summoned by the CJN over untoward acts such as giving conflicting judgements and acting outside their jurisdictions.
The present act of Garba is said to have angered the CJN, who directed that disciplinary action be immediately taken against him because issues bothering on assets declaration were outside the jurisdiction of area courts.
