Jigawa State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has dismissed three judicial officers and taken disciplinary actions against several others for misconduct and violation of judicial procedures.
The decision was made during the commission’s 178th meeting on January 7, as confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by Abbas Wangara, Director of Protocol and Publicity for the Jigawa State Judiciary.
The terminated officers include Iyal Ibrahim, a Higher Registrar on Grade Level 08, and Baffa Alhaji, a Principal Registrar on Grade Level 14. Both were found guilty of illegally selling two vehicles, which were exhibits belonging to the Federal High Court in Dutse. Their actions were deemed an official misconduct under Rule 5 (4) & (6) of the Jigawa State Judiciary Scheme of Service 2006, leading to their dismissal in line with Section 41 of the Judicial Service Commission Law, Cap. 20 Laws of Jigawa State 2012.
Additionally, the commission dismissed Abdu Aujara, a Chief Clerical Officer, for suppressing N965,000, a litigant’s deposit in a recovery case filed by Ja’iz Bank before the Chief Magistrates Court in Jahun. His termination was also based on Section 41 of the Judicial Service Commission Law.
The commission further took action against three Shari’a Court judges, advising them to resign over various instances of judicial misconduct. Adamu Farin-Dutse was accused of abusing judicial powers and misapplying the law despite prior warnings. The commission recommended he resign within two weeks, citing Section 41 of the Judicial Service Commission Law. Muhammad Usman was found guilty of issuing a writ of possession before delivering a judgment, which violated judicial procedures. Usman Zubair was similarly advised to resign after being found guilty of irregularities in inheritance distribution and allowing an unrelated party to benefit from the proceedings.
Two other judicial officers received formal warnings. Resident Magistrate Munnir Abdullahi was cautioned for converting a civil matter into a criminal case and displaying partisanship. Magistrate Yakubu Ibrahim was reprimanded for verbally abusing a litigant at the Chief Magistrate Court in Maigatari.
The JSC emphasized that these disciplinary measures were part of its ongoing efforts to ensure a corruption-free judiciary while upholding high standards of discipline and professionalism within the state’s judicial system.
Wangara reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to maintaining a fair and supportive work environment and vowed to continue enforcing accountability in the judiciary.
