The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has ordered the Judicial Service Committee (JSC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to immediately initiate disciplinary action against the Upper Area Court Judge who issued direct Criminal Summons against a former governor of the Central Governor of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Charles Soludo.
The Abuja Upper Area Court, presided over by Gambo Garba had in July 2021 issued a direct Criminal Summons against the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State over alleged serial abuse of office and breach of Code of Conduct for public officers when he was CBN Governor between May 29, 2004, and May 29, 2009, which is said to be completely outside the jurisdiction of the Upper Area Court.
According to the constitution, trial on criminal charges on false declaration of assets is exclusively vested in the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) but the Upper Area Court Judge assumed jurisdiction contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
FCT Judicial Service Committee billed to discipline the judge is under the Chairmanship of the Acting Chief Judge, Hussein Baba Yusuf.
A top source revealed that the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council (NJC) Justice Muhammad has determined to put an end to impunity and misconduct in the judiciary.
It would be recalled that the CJN had met with the chief judges of FCT, Rivers, Kebbi, Cross Rivers, Jigawa, Anambra and Imo States on Monday, September 6, 2021, and directed some of them to admonish judges in their jurisdictions on the danger of granting ex-parte injunctions.
The acting chief judge of the Federal Capital Territory is expected to submit his findings to the CJN within 21 days.
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