Dutse, Jan. 12, 2025
Jigawa State Judicial Service Commission (JSC), fired three officers, advised three judges to resign and issued warning letter to two Resident magistrates, over misconduct.
A statement signed by Director Protocol and Publicity, Jigawa State Judiciary, Mr Abbas Wangara, made this known in Dutse.
Wangara in the statement, said that the disciplinary actions were taken at the commission’s 178th meeting on the Jan. 7, 2025.
The outcome of the meeting signed by the commission’s secretary Bar. Auwalu Dan’azumi, stated that the Commission received the report of the investigation committee from High Court department.
The report was in respect of Iyal Ibrahim (Higher Registrar on GL 08) and Baffa Alhaji ( Principal Registrar on GL 14).
It said that the two officers were found guilty for illegal sales of two vehicle exhibits of the Federal High Court, Dutse, an offence considered as an official misconduct punishable under Rule 5 (4)&(6) of the Jigawa State Judiciary Scheme of Service, (2006).
The report also said, the commission has resolved that the service of the two officers be terminated in accordance with Section 41 of the judicial Service Commission Law, Cap. J20 Laws of Jigawa State, (2012).
It explained that the commission had received a report from High Court department, in respect of Abdu Hassan Aujara (Chief Clerical Officer) for suppressing N965,000, being a litigant’s deposit in respect of a case of recovery, filed by Ja’iz Bank before Chief Magistrate Court Jahun.
The director in the statement, added that the commission therefore, resolved that the service of the officer be terminated, in accordance with Section 41 of the Judicial Service Commission Law, Cap. J20 Laws of Jigawa State, (2012).
According to him, the commission also deliberated on the report of the Judiciary Public Complaint Committee (JPCC), in respect of Alkali Adamu Isyaku Farin-Dutse, a Shari’a Court Judge who allegedly abused judicial power and misapplied the law, despite series of warnings in that regards.
“After careful deliberations, the commission found the officer liable for official misconduct, in accordance with the provision of Section 5.4 of the Judiciary Scheme of Service.
“The commission however, resolved to write to the officer and advise him to tender a resignation letter from service within two weeks, as provided by Section 41 of the Judicial Service Commission Law, Cap. J20 Laws of Jigawa State, (2012),” the statement said.
It further added that the commission also deliberated on the Judiciary Public Complaint Committee (JPCC) report, on official misconduct in respect of Alkali Muhammad Shehu Usman, a Shari’a Court Judge who allegedly abused power, by issuing writ of possession before delivering a judgement.
This it said, showed clearly that he conducted judicial functions without following due process of the law.
The director revealed that the action of the officer has violated the provision of Section 5.4 of the Judiciary Scheme of Service, (2006) and that the commission resolved to write to the officer and advise him as a matter of urgency tender his resignation letter from the service in accordance with the provision of Section 41 of the Judicial Service Commission Law, Cap. J20 Laws of Jigawa State, (2012).
In a related development, the commission also based on the report of the Judiciary Public Complaint Committee (JPCC) in respect of Alkali Usman Usman Zubair, a Shari’a Court Judge who was allegedly accused for abuse of judicial power, by refusing to adjudicate properly on matters of distribution of shares to the legal heirs.
He allowed another person, who was not a party to the substantive matter to benefit and the commission also found that the officer had been warned previously for irregularities in both his civil and criminal proceedings.
“So the commission resolved to write to Alkali Usman Usman Zubair and advised him to tender resignation service within two weeks,” the director explained.
Moreso, the statement disclosed that the commission has issued a warning to resident Magistrate, Munnir Sarki Abdullahi for converting civil matter to criminal, by allowing himself to be partisan in the case.
The warning was given under Section 41 of the Judicial Service Commission Law, Cap. J20 Laws of Jigawa State, (2012).
Similarly, the commission warned Magistrate Yakubu Ibrahim for abuse of power, by insulting and uttering a derogatory words to a litigant when she appeared before him at Chief Magistrate Court Maigatari.
The director said the above actions were taken as part of the commission’s efforts to ensure a corrupt-free judiciary, maintain high level performance and enforce discipline and professionalism in the service.
Mr Wangara, further pledged the commitment of commission to providing a fair and supportive working environment for all employees, assuring that it will continue to take necessary disciplinary actions to maintain standards.
By Aisha Ahmed
Dutse
