Nigerian Judges, Court Registrars Sanctioned For Bribery, Illegally Releasing Convicts, Falsifying Court Documents In Kano

Some judges and court registrars in Kano State have been implicated in a scandal involving the illegal release of a convict and the falsification of court records.

The misconduct came to light after it was discovered that a judge had unlawfully released a convict who had been sentenced to prison by another judge.

Meanwhile, a court registrar granted bail to a suspect without the case being officially assigned to any court.

The Kano State Judicial Service Commission (KSJSC) has taken swift disciplinary action regarding the issue, with eight judiciary staff members facing sanctions for their involvement in illegal activities.

This includes the issuance of bail and the manipulation of official documents in exchange for bribes.

The KSJSC confirmed the actions in a statement released on Sunday, signed by the spokesperson for the Kano State Judiciary, Baba Jibo-Ibrahim.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) convened its 76th meeting on November 4, where it reviewed petitions against various judicial staff and ordered the compulsory retirement of two court registrars.

The sanctioned officials are magistrates Nasir Ado, Alkali Yusuf Kawu, Sanusi Usman-Atana, and finance registrar Salisu Adamu-Nayola, alongside Alkali Abdulmuminu Nuhu, Alkali Abubakar Abdullahi, court messenger Shuaibu Bello, and court registrar Shamsu Abbas, according to the JSC.

According to the JSC, an investigation by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC) into two complaints against Nasir Ado revealed that he conducted proceedings without a record.

When questioned, he allegedly tampered with and falsified the record to create the appearance of a record. The JSC adopted the JPCC’s recommendation that Mr. Ado’s actions constituted gross misconduct, leading to his removal from judicial duties.

In response to a complaint filed by the Association of Fighting Criminals, which accused Sharia Court judge Yusuf Kawu of unlawfully releasing a convict who had been sentenced to one year in prison, the JSC found Kawu’s actions to be illegal and his defense inadequate. As a result, Kawu has been indefinitely removed from judicial duties.

Magistrate Sanusi Atana was issued a warning following two petitions against him.

He was found to have overstepped his jurisdiction by taking on the role of property recovery in a criminal case and granting bail to a suspect ahead of a ruling, without notifying the prosecution.

The JSC advised Atana to refrain from exceeding his jurisdiction and uphold fairness in his conduct.

Salisu Adamu Nayola, finance registrar at Kiru Sharia Court, was compulsorily retired after a JPCC investigation confirmed he had accepted bribes to process inheritance claims.

Meanwhile, Nayola was found to have collaborated with Alkali Abdulmuminu Nuhu, who has been removed from judicial duties for two years and placed under supervision by the chief registrar.

Alkali Abubakar Abdullahi of Takai Sharia Court in Kano received a strong warning for handling cases outside his jurisdiction, particularly involving Sabo Garba Housing Estate, Kabuga, and Dorayi Kwanar Makabarta. The commission urged him to adhere strictly to his territorial limits.

Court messenger Shuaibu Bello was suspended without pay for four months after a JPCC probe revealed he had engaged in corruption by charging excessive fees for opening a file.

Bello was also found to have treated a court user disrespectfully and deceived the petitioner into withdrawing a complaint.

Meanwhile, court registrar Shamsu Abbas was compulsorily retired after it was revealed he released a suspect on bail without the case being officially assigned to any court, and had ordered the suspect to make financial restitution.

The JSC reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all judiciary personnel adhere to the law and respect judicial processes.