Hussaini Kafi in Kano
The Jigawa State Judicial Service Commission has dismissed three judicial staff for various acts of misconduct, as part of efforts to maintain integrity and discipline within the state’s judiciary. The commission’s decisions, announced in a statement on Sunday, were made following its 178th meeting on January 7, where disciplinary measures were approved for personnel found guilty of violating judicial rules and procedures.
According to Abbas Wangara, Director of Protocol and Publicity for the Jigawa State Judiciary, two officers—Higher Registrar Iyal Ibrahim and Principal Registrar Baffa Alhaji—were dismissed for illegally selling vehicles that had been seized as exhibits by the Federal High Court in Dutse. Their actions were deemed official misconduct and resulted in their termination under the Judicial Service Commission Law, Cap. 20 of Jigawa State.
Additionally, Chief Clerical Officer Abdu Aujara was dismissed for embezzling ₦965,000, which was a litigant’s deposit in a case involving Ja’iz Bank at the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Jahun. The commission took decisive action under the same legal provisions, ensuring that Aujara’s actions would not go unpunished.
The commission also advised three Shari’a Court judges to resign due to various forms of misconduct, including abuse of judicial power and violation of legal processes. Judges Adamu Farin-Dutse, Muhammad Usman, and Usman Zubair were each found guilty of serious judicial infractions and were urged to tender their resignations within two weeks. Meanwhile, two magistrates, Munnir Abdullahi and Yakubu Ibrahim, were reprimanded for their unprofessional behavior in court. These actions underscore the commission’s commitment to a corruption-free and highly professional judiciary in Jigawa State.
