The Kano State Judicial Service Commission, JSC, has dismissed a court clerk and demoted two judicial officers over allegations of forgery, bribery, and financial impropriety, in a sweeping disciplinary action aimed at restoring integrity within the state judiciary.
According to a statement signed by the commission’s spokesperson, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, the measures followed the adoption of recommendations by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee, JPCC, which investigated multiple petitions and complaints against judicial staff.
The statement reads, “Salim Umar, a clerk with the Upper Shari’a Court, Rijiyar Lemo, was dismissed from service after being found guilty of forgery, falsification of court records, and demanding bribes from litigants.”
The commission described his actions as gross misconduct and ordered his immediate removal.
Also, two other officers — Alkali Shamsu Maul’ainaini, Presiding Judge of the Upper Shari’a Court, Durbunde, and Isa Yuguda Wudilawa, Principal Registrar at the Magistrate Court, Zungeru Complex — were demoted for various acts of financial misconduct.
Wudilawa was found to have diverted official funds into his personal account, violating public service ethics. He was demoted from Grade Level 12 to Grade Level 10, in accordance with Section 04305 of the Kano State Civil Service Rules.
Similarly, Maul’ainaini was punished for removing court records and acting outside his jurisdiction. He was demoted from the position of a presiding judge to the registrar cadre, stripped of all judicial responsibilities, and issued a strong warning.
The commission also announced sanctions against several other judicial officers for lesser offences. Alkali Ibrahim Isah Usman, Presiding Judge of Bebeji Shari’a Court, was cautioned and had his promotion deferred for one year for executing judgment before the 30-day appeal period expired.
In another case, Alkali Munzali Tanko (retd.), a retired judge of the Upper Shari’a Court, Post Office, was found to have conducted court sittings nine days after his official retirement. The commission described his conduct as unethical and directed that his misconduct be made public as a warning to others.
Other disciplinary actions include a strong warning to Magistrate Halima A.B. Wali for failing to follow due process in a criminal matter, and a three-month half-salary sanction for His Worship Abdul’aziz M. Habib, who was penalised for disregarding official circulars.
Meanwhile, the commission commended Alkali Ali Jibrin Danzaki, Presiding Judge of Upper Shari’a Court, Rijiyar Lemo, for his integrity and vigilance in exposing the fraudulent acts of his clerk, describing his action as “exemplary and worthy of emulation.”
