The Kano State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has compulsorily retired two officers of the state judiciary, suspended a court clerk without pay, demoted a Sharia Court judge, lifted the recall of another judge, and ordered investigations into a police inspector and two court officials over separate disciplinary matters.
The development was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Kano State Judiciary, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, following the commission’s 90th meeting held on July 3 under the chairmanship of the Chief Judge of Kano State.
He said the commission considered reports and recommendations of the Establishment Committee and the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC) on petitions and disciplinary cases involving Sharia Court judges and staff of the judiciary.
According to the statement, the commission approved the disciplinary measures in line with its constitutional mandate to uphold integrity, accountability and public confidence in the administration of justice.
The commission directed Hon. Alkali Aliyu Yahaya Muhammad, Presiding Judge of the Sharia Court, Babeji, to proceed on compulsory retirement with immediate effect after the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee established allegations of bribery and corruption against him in connection with Suit No. CV/474/2024 between Talatu Ibrahim and Muntari Abubakar Bagauda.
It also ordered the judge to refund N250,000, which it said he received as gratification.
In the same case, the commission suspended Ibrahim Ahmad Ibrahim, a court clerk at the Sharia Court, Babeji, without pay for four months after he admitted receiving part of the money allegedly collected as a bribe.
The statement further disclosed that the commission approved the compulsory retirement of Muzambilu Ado, Acting Director of Information and Statistics at the Sharia Court of Appeal, following findings by the Establishment Committee that revealed serious irregularities in his academic credentials.
According to the commission, the findings included alteration of academic records and irregular admission into the Nigerian Law School without the commission’s approval.
The commission also demoted Hon. Alkali Usman Haruna Usman, Presiding Judge of the Upper Sharia Court, Goron Dutse, by one grade level for negligence after he permitted proceeds from the sale of estate property to be paid into the personal account of a court official.
“The action exposed litigants’ funds to possible misappropriation,” the statement said, adding that the commission also ratified his earlier recall from judicial duties for one year and issued him a strong warning.
On another disciplinary matter, the commission issued a strong warning to Hon. Alkali Abdullahi Wayya, Presiding Judge of the Upper Sharia Court, Kasuwa, over his handling of bail in Case No. CR/172/2022 between the Commissioner of Police and Muhammad Musa Kadawa.
The statement said the judge was found negligent in supervising the bail process, which resulted in the release of the defendant without proper verification of the title documents submitted as a bail bond.
The commission also directed that Inspector Shehu Adamu be reported to the Commissioner of Police, Kano State, for investigation and possible disciplinary action after findings showed he misled the court by assuring it that all bail conditions had been met before the defendant was released.
It further ordered the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the roles played by Salmanu Zubairu, Registrar Record, and Ahmad Kabir, Finance Registrar, in the handling of the bail documents in the same case.
Meanwhile, the commission reviewed its earlier decision recalling Hon. Alkali Umar Sunusi Danbaba (PhD) from judicial duties after considering additional documents submitted by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee.
“The Committee had not recommended his recall,” the statement noted.
Consequently, the commission lifted his recall with effect from July 3, restored him to full salary and all attendant entitlements, and directed him to resume his judicial functions.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of discipline, professionalism and ethical conduct within the Kano State Judiciary.
It warned that judicial officers and court personnel must conduct themselves in ways that promote public confidence in the administration of justice, stressing that “any act of misconduct, corruption or abuse of office will attract appropriate sanctions.”