The Kano Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has taken disciplinary actions against six court officials for their involvement in fraud, extortion, and forgery.
Spokesman of the Kano State Judicial Commission, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, announced this in a statement released on Friday.
Ibrahim said the decision was during the JSC’s 74th meeting held on July 22, 2024.
According to him, the Judiciary Public Complaint Committee (JPCC) had investigated a petition against two court registrars, Mustapha Makama (Registrar C.M.C 27) and Yusuf Muhammad Yakasai (Registrar C.M.C 14 Gyadi-Gyadi), who conspired to extort N130,000 from a petitioner under the false pretence of releasing a suspect on bail.
The JPCC found that Makama and Yakasai’s actions constituted extortion and conspiracy, involving the unlawful receipt of funds.
Based on the JPCC’s recommendation, the Judicial Service Commission directed Mustapha Makama to proceed on compulsory retirement, deeming him unfit to continue serving in the judiciary.
Yusuf Muhammad Yakasai, who was found to be an accessory to the misconduct, was demoted one grade level.
In another case, the JPCC investigated a petition against a syndicate comprising Salisu Ado (Secretary at High Court Complex Bompai), Bilya Abdullahi (Senior Registrar High Court No. 9), Ismail Garba, and Auwalu Ibrahim Khalil (Court Registrars).
The committee found that their actions amounted to conspiracy, forgery, and cheating through the issuance of a forged bank reversal court order and forging the signature of a magistrate.
Consequently, the Judicial Service Commission, upon adopting the JPCC’s recommendation, suspended the aforementioned staff with immediate effect.
The JSC reiterated its commitment to applying appropriate sanctions against any erring staff, particularly those entrusted with judicial responsibilities, to safeguard the integrity and accountability of the judicial system and maintain public confidence.(vitalnewsngr.com)
