The Kano State Judicial Service Commission has recalled three magistrates from the bench and deferred the promotion of one court registrar over misconduct and Judicial recklessness.
The affected judicial officers include Chief Magistrate Talatu Makama (Magistrate Court No 29), Senior Magistrate Rabi Abdulkadir (Magistrate Court No 48), and Chief Magistrate Tijjani Saleh Minjibir (Magistrate Court 60) and Senior Registrar Abdu Nasir of Appeal section, High Court, Kano.
Spokesperson of the Kano State Judiciary, Baba Jibo in a statement made available to journalists on Monday, said the disciplinary action was taken at its 72nd/73rd meeting held on the 11th and 20th June, 2024 respectively.
According to the statement, sequel to the findings of the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC ) in respect to three petitions filed and investigated against Chief Magistrate Talatu Makama, the commission has adopted the committee’s recommendations after a thorough investigations on her making an order to GT Bank to transfer money in the petitioner’s account already frozen, into her personal account which she clearly admitted in her response, stating further that her action amounted to gross- misconduct.
Jibo also added that the chief magistrate was found to be handling matters with judicial bias, and was found receiving case and making order to the police even before the case was directed to her, a conduct the commission described as despicable, and therefore recalled her from the bench and relieved of all judicial duties effective immediately.
“Following the review of the circumstance surrounding the handling of the case between Commissioner of Police Vs Abubakar Salisu, by Senior Magistrate Rabi Abdulkadir of Court No. 48, the Commission found the actions of the Senior Magistrate to amount to Judicial recklessness and therefore the Commission has resolved to recall the Magistrate and relieved her from judicial duties for a period of one calendar year. She has been instructed to cease all duties at Magistrate Court No. 48.
“The JSC also considered the investigation report on the alleged misconduct of Senior Registrar Abdu Nasir of the Appeals Department of the High Court.
“The report confirmed that Mr. Nasir received payments of fees meant for court records into his personal account, which constitutes serious misconduct.
“Consequently, the Commission issued a strong warning to Abdu Nasir and also deferred his promotion for one year.”
The commission also in its 73rd meeting deliberated on petitions received and viewed the actions of The Chief Magistrate to amount to serious misconduct and judicial recklessness and unanimously took the decision to recall Tijjani Saleh Minjibir from judicial duties for a period of one year effective immediately.
“He is to cease all judicial activities and report to the High Court Headquarters for posting,” the statement said.
It however noted that the commission will continue to apply the appropriate sanctions against any erring staff, particularly those saddled with judicial responsibilities in order to safeguard the integrity and accountability of the judicial system and maintain the confidence of the public.