Kano State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has recalled a Sharia court judge, Alkali Mustapha Kiru, and sanctioned several judicial officers over various acts of misconduct.
Gatekeepers News reports that JSC’s spokesman, Baba Jibo-Ibrahim, in a statement on Thursday, said the decision was part of resolutions reached during the commission’s meeting held on Wednesday.
The commission found that Kiru secretly jailed a petitioner for three weeks and violated fair hearing principles by issuing a writ of possession after closing a case due to a lack of witness from the plaintiff.
The statement reads, “After closing the case, he issued a writ of possession in respect of the disputed farmland, which clearly violates the principles of fair hearing.”
“Kiru imprisoned the petitioner off-record for three weeks for challenging the issuance of the writ of possession to the defendant.”
The commission issued a warning to Alkali Ahmad after the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC) found him to be negligent in handling a case.
JSC cited his “non-adherence to the practice and procedures in criminal matters, which could lead to a miscarriage of justice for the warning”.
Additionally, the commission issued a warning letter to Sakina Aminu, a senior magistrate, for acting contrary to superior directives.
The statement added, “Aminu is cautioned against acting contrary to the express directives of the chief judge or any superior officer to whom she reports.”
“She is further advised to maintain a cordial working relationship with state counsel posted to her court and to fully comply with the chief judge’s circular prohibiting the engagement of police prosecutors in handling cases before her court.”
The commission also demoted Salisu Sule, a court registrar, by one grade level “after the JPCC found overwhelming evidence of misconduct in four separate complaints bordering on insults, intimidation, and abuse of office.”
The spokesman noted that investigation revealed that Sule consistently used the name of the judiciary to harass and intimidate the public in the course of his duties.
He said, “The JSC had issued a warning letter to him dated December 19, 2024, and has now resolved to impose this stiffer sanction, demoting him by one grade level with immediate effect.”
The statement added that after a “careful” review, the
The commission said after a careful review, it resolved that Mustapha Sa’ad-Datti and Rabi Abdulkadir, both magistrates in the state, should resume sitting and continue with their judicial duties.
The statement continued, “They are, however, admonished to uphold the highest standards of integrity, diligence, and professionalism in the discharge of their judicial functions.”
“Ahmad Danmaraya, a principal registrar attached to the high court headquarters in Kano, was directed to proceed on compulsory retirement with immediate effect for acts of
“gross misconduct”.”
“The JPCC found Danmaraya guilty of forging an affidavit, affixing the high court stamp and seal, and inscribing a fake receipt number, knowing fully well that he is not a commissioner for oaths.”
JSC reiterated its commitment to promoting accountability and professionalism within the judiciary, and also its zero-tolerance stance on any form of misconduct.
