The Kano State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has taken a series of disciplinary measures against several judicial officers and staff following findings of misconduct and procedural violations.
According to a statement released by the Kano State Judiciary’s spokesperson, Baba Jibo-Ibrahim, the actions were among key resolutions reached during the Commission’s 82nd meeting, held on Wednesday.
The disciplinary decisions followed investigations carried out by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC), which had been tasked with reviewing a series of complaints lodged by members of the public.
Among the sanctions, the Commission demoted Court Registrar Salisu Sule by one grade level after the JPCC substantiated four complaints involving alleged intimidation, use of abusive language, and abuse of office. The statement noted that Sule had previously received a formal warning in December 2024, but further verified incidents prompted a stricter penalty.
“The findings showed that Mr. Sule repeatedly misused the authority of his office to intimidate individuals, leading to his demotion with immediate effect,” Jibo-Ibrahim stated.
In a separate development, two magistrates—Chief Magistrates Mustapha Sa’ad-Datti and Rabi Abdulkadir—were reinstated to their posts following a review of earlier disciplinary actions. The Commission, however, urged both officials to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in their duties going forward.
Further disciplinary actions were also taken against Principal Registrar Ahmad Aliyu Danmaraya, who was ordered into compulsory retirement. The JPCC found that he had forged an affidavit, improperly used a High Court stamp, and fabricated a receipt number—actions deemed gross misconduct under judicial regulations.
In another case, Alkali Mustapha Kiru of the Sharia Court was recalled for a one-year period. The Commission found that he violated fair hearing principles by prematurely closing a case due to the plaintiff’s failure to produce a witness and then issuing a writ of possession on disputed land. Kiru was also cited for unlawfully detaining the plaintiff for three weeks outside of formal court records.
Additionally, the Commission issued a formal warning to Alkali Nasiru Ahmad for procedural lapses in the handling of a criminal case, including deviations from standard practices that risked compromising the fairness of proceedings.
Senior Magistrate Sakina Aminu was cautioned over her unauthorized use of a Police Prosecutor in two cases, in contravention of directives issued by the Chief Judge. The Commission reminded her to maintain proper coordination with State Counsel and adhere strictly to judicial protocols.
“The Commission reiterates its commitment to fostering transparency and accountability within the judiciary,” the statement emphasized. “Any form of professional misconduct will be addressed decisively to protect the integrity of the justice system.”
The Kano JSC affirmed that it would continue to uphold its mandate of ensuring ethical standards among judicial officers and promoting public trust in the legal system.
