Misconduct: Kano Judicial Commission Recalls Two Judges, Sanctions Eight Staff

The Kano State Judicial Service Commission has recalled two Shariah Court Judges, Yusuf Kawu and Abdulmuminu Nuhu, as well as a magistrate, Nasir Ado, from judicial duties over alleged misconducts.

The commission also ordered two court registrars, Salisu Nayola and Shamsu Abbas, to proceed on compulsory retirements.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Kano State Judiciary, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, said the commission took the disciplinary action against the judicial staff at its 76th meeting after recommendations by the Judiciary Public Complaint Committee (JPCC).

According to him, “The Judiciary Public Complaint Committee (JPCC) investigated two petitions filed against Magistrate Nasir Ado, where the investigation revealed that the magistrate conducted a proceeding without record, and when asked, he falsified and tampered with the record to show that there was a record of the proceeding. The commission adopted the recommendation of the JPCC that Nasir Ado’s actions of falsifying and tampering with the court’s records constitute an act of gross misconduct, and accordingly, he is recalled from judicial duties.

“Following a complaint filed against Sharia court judge Yusuf Kawu by the Association of Fighting Criminals, it was confirmed that Alkali Yusuf Kawu used his judicial position to release a convict who was sentenced by another Alkali to 12 calendar months without option of fine in correctional centre. The commission found the actions of Alkali to be unlawful and his defence untenable; consequently, he is recalled from judicial functions indefinitely.

“The commission issued a warning to Magistrate Sanusi Usman Atana following two petitions against him, where he was found to have assumed the role of recovery of premises in a criminal trial and, in the second petition, granted bail to a suspect before the date slated for ruling without notifying the prosecution. Accordingly, the commission issued a strong warning to Sanusi Atana to desist from exceeding his jurisdictional limit and avoid circumventing the established principles of fair hearing in handling matters before him.

“The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has directed the immediate compulsory retirement of Salisu Adamu Nayola, the Finance Registrar of Kiru Sharia Court, after an investigation by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC) following a petition on allegations of bribery. The JPCC received a petition alleging that Adamu Nayola was collecting money from families of deceased persons before processing their inheritance entitlements.

“Upon review, the JPCC found direct evidence of these actions, including Adamu Nayola’s admission to receiving bribes from multiple litigants. It was confirmed upon investigation that Salisu Nayola was in cohort with Alkali Abdulmuminu Nuhu, who was complacent in the acts of collecting bribes by the registrar.

The commission adopted the recommendation of the JPCC, and Salisu Nayola, whose actions amounted to a gross violation of his duties as a judiciary staff, has been directed to proceed on compulsory retirement, while Alkali Abdulmuminu Nuhu is recalled from judicial duties for a period of two years to remain under the supervision of the Chief Registrar, Sharia Court of Appeal.

“The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) issued a strong warning to Alkali Abubakar Abdullahi of the Sharia Court, Takai, following an investigation by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC). The JPCC found Alkali Abdullahi to have presided over an estate distribution case located outside his jurisdiction in Sabo Garba Housing Estate, Kabuga, and Dorayi Kwanar Makabarta. The Commission endorsed the JPCC’s recommendation, warning the judge to strictly adhere to his territorial limits and avoid handling cases outside his designated jurisdiction.

“Following the investigation of the JPCC on the petition filed against Shuaibu Bello, a court messenger, who was found to have engaged in an act of corruption by collecting money in excess of the official amount charged for opening a file. The committee also found him to engage in conduct unbecoming of a judiciary staff by being rude and disrespectful to a court user and deceiving the petitioner into signing a letter of withdrawal of the petition. The commission endorsed the recommendation of the committee, issued a strong warning, and further suspended him for four months without pay.

“Sequel to an investigation conducted by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC) into a petition filed against Shamsu Abbas, a court registrar. The investigation revealed the registrar to have assumed an adjudicative role by releasing a suspect on bail without the case being officially assigned to any court, making an order for the suspect to make financial restitution related to the alleged crime, actions that are beyond his scope of duties as a court registrar. The committee found his actions to constitute a flagrant violation of the responsibilities of a court registrar.

Considering the JPCC’s recommendations and after extensive deliberation, the Kano State Judicial Service Commission has directed the immediate compulsory retirement of the court registrar, Shamsu Abbas.

“The Judicial Service Commission remains dedicated to ensuring that all judicial personnel perform their duties within the boundaries of the law and with the utmost respect for judicial processes, and the commission will continue to apply the appropriate sanctions against any erring staff, particularly those saddled with judicial responsibilities, to safeguard the integrity and accountability of the judicial system and maintain public confidence,” Ibrahim said.