Jigawa Judicial Service Commission Sanctions Sharia Judges, Sacks Judicial Officers For Misconduct

The Jigawa State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has dismissed three judicial officers for misconduct and advised three Sharia Court judges to resign, while reprimanding two others for dereliction of duty.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by Abbas Wangara, the Director of Protocol and Publicity for the Jigawa State Judiciary, following the commission’s 178th meeting held on January 7, 2025.

According to the statement, disciplinary actions were taken against personnel found guilty of violating judicial procedures and rules.

Two officers, Iyal Ibrahim (Higher Registrar, Grade Level 08) and Baffa Alhaji (Principal Registrar, Grade Level 14), were found guilty of illegally selling two vehicles that were court exhibits. Their actions, deemed official misconduct, violated Rule 5 (4) and (6) of the Jigawa State Judiciary Scheme of Service 2006.

The commission also terminated the appointment of Abdu Aujara, a Chief Clerical Officer, for suppressing ₦965,000, which was a litigant’s deposit in a recovery case filed by Ja’iz Bank at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Jahun.

The commission reviewed cases against three Sharia Court judges:

Adamu Farin-Dutse was accused of judicial misconduct, including abuse of power and misapplication of the law. He was advised to resign within two weeks or face further action.

Muhammad Usman was found guilty of issuing a writ of possession before delivering judgment, a violation of due process. He was also advised to resign within two weeks.
Usman Zubair was sanctioned for failing to properly adjudicate inheritance distribution and allowing an unqualified party to benefit. The commission advised him to submit his resignation letter within two weeks.

Munnir Abdullahi, a resident magistrate, received a warning for converting a civil matter to a criminal one and displaying partisanship.

Yakubu Ibrahim, another magistrate, was reprimanded for insulting and using derogatory language toward a litigant at the Chief Magistrate Court, Maigatari

The disciplinary actions, according to Wangara, are part of the JSC’s commitment to maintaining a corrupt-free judiciary, promoting professionalism, and ensuring discipline. He reiterated the commission’s dedication to upholding standards and providing a fair working environment for judicial staff.

These steps reflect the commission’s resolve to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in the judicial system.