In a significant disciplinary exercise, the Kano State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has announced sanctions against several judicial officers and court staff for a range of professional misconduct, TheCable reported.
Key Sanctions Issued by the Commission
The most severe punishment was meted out to Alkali Mustapha Kiru, a judge of the Sharia Court, who was recalled from the bench for one year. He was accused of breaching fair hearing principles by closing a case for lack of a witness and then unlawfully issuing a writ of possession in favour of the defendant. The Commission also found that he had secretly jailed the petitioner for three weeks for protesting the decision.
Alkali Ahmad received a formal warning after the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee found that his negligent handling of a criminal case risked miscarriage of justice due to his failure to follow prescribed procedures.
Disciplinary Action Against Magistrates and Registrars
Senior Magistrate Sakina Aminu was reprimanded for insubordination after she disobeyed the Chief Judge’s circular prohibiting the use of police prosecutors in her court. She was further directed to maintain professionalism in her interactions with state counsel.
In the court registry, Salisu Sule was demoted by one grade level following repeated complaints of intimidation and harassment. Despite having been warned in December 2024, Sule continued to abuse his office.
Ahmad Danmaraya, a principal registrar at the High Court headquarters, faced the harshest punishment after being found guilty of forging an affidavit, misusing the High Court’s official seal, and issuing a false receipt. The Commission ordered his compulsory retirement.
“A judiciary that polices itself remains the bedrock of public confidence in the rule of law.”
Reinstatement and Cautions
Two magistrates previously under review — Mustapha Sa’ad-Datti and Rabi Abdulkadir — were cleared to resume duties. However, both received stern cautions to uphold integrity and procedural diligence in future conduct.
Legal Context: The Judiciary’s Internal Disciplinary Framework
These disciplinary actions reflect the mandate of state Judicial Service Commissions under the Third Schedule, Part II of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution to regulate judicial appointments and discipline officers below the rank of High Court judge. The crackdown underscores the judiciary’s self-correcting mechanisms and the growing intolerance for judicial impunity.
What’s Next?
While the JSC concluded its internal sanctions, some of the misconduct, particularly the case involving forgery by Ahmad Danmaraya, may prompt criminal referrals to law enforcement agencies for prosecution — a move that would further affirm the judiciary’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption and procedural abuse.
