The Kano State Judicial Service Commission, JSC, has disciplined eight judiciary staff members for various acts of misconduct.
A statement by Mr. Baba Jibo-Ibrahim, the spokesperson for the Kano State Judiciary, confirmed the news on Sunday in Kano.
It reads, “The Judicial Service Commission at its 76th meeting held on November 4, considered petitions against the judiciary staff and ordered two court registrars on compulsory retirement.”
Those affected include Magistrates Nasir Ado, Alkali Yusuf Kawu, Sanusi Usman-Atana, and Finance Registrar Salisu Adamu-Nayola.
“Others are Alkali Abdulmuminu Nuhu, Alkali Abubakar Abdullahi, Court messenger Shuaibu Bello, and Shamsu Abbas, Court registrar,” according to the JSC.
The investigation, conducted by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee, JPCC, revealed that Nasir Ado “conducted proceedings without record and when asked, he falsified and tampered with the record to show that there was a record of the proceeding.” The JSC approved the JPCC’s findings, stating that Ado’s manipulation of court records was “gross misconduct,” leading to his removal from judicial duties.
Additionally, Magistrate Sanusi Atana received a warning after two complaints revealed he had overstepped his role, taking up a “recovery of premises in a criminal trial” and granting bail early “without notifying the prosecution.”
The JSC also mandated the compulsory retirement of Salisu Adamu Nayola, Finance Registrar of Kiru Sharia Court, after an investigation revealed he accepted bribes to process “inheritance entitlements.”
Alkali Abubakar Abdullahi of Takai Sharia Court Kano received a strong warning for overseeing cases beyond his legal territory, specifically with regards to “Sabo Garba Housing Estate, Kabuga, and Dorayi Kwanar Makabarta distribution case outside his jurisdiction.” The commission advised him to adhere to “territorial limits” in future cases.
The JPCC also found court messenger Shuaibu Bello involved in corruption by “collecting money in excess of the official amount charged for opening a file.”
In a similar vein, Shamsu Abbas, a court registrar, faced compulsory retirement after it was discovered he had released a suspect on bail without proper assignment and directed the suspect to make financial restitution, actions beyond his designated role.