The Niger State Judicial Service Commission has relieved the Magistrate Court judge in Salka, Magama L.G.A, Niger State, of his office with immediate effect. The judge was deleted from his position over alleged acts of gross misconduct and abuse of judicial power.
Abdulrahman Garafini, Secretary to the commission which is situated in Minna, made this known on Wednesday, 29 March.
He pointed out that the decision of the commission was taken at the Commission’s 136th meeting held on March 21, after consideration of the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Mohammed-led committee set up to look into petitions against the judges.
According to Garafini, three of seven petitions tendered before the committee were against Iya, of which two were sufficiently proved by the petitioners. He also added that the judge admitted the claims labelled against him.
He also told that the report indicted Mohamed Bako for setting aside his duties in the judiciary, representing and shielding a suspect identified as Saba Idris from arrest by police and court.
He said, “It was further discovered that Mohammed Bako was a judge in his own case and used the instrument of his office to facilitate a gainful benefit for his personal interest and private affairs, hence, the NJSC approved the committee’s recommendations and dismissed the respondent with immediate effect.”
In addition, the commission also demoted by one grade level, two sharia court judges over similar allegations, that is misconduct and abuse of office. Garafini revealed the two judges to be Abdullahi Nasiru, the Sharia Judge of Kotun Bola Minna and his colleague in Badeggi, Mohammed Baba Enagi.
Garafini also let out words that Nasiru and Enagi are also to serve a tutelage of one year in other courts.
