Jelili Gbadamosi
The Kano State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has compulsorily retired a Sharia Court judge and the Acting Director of Information and Statistics at the Shari’a Court of Appeal over separate cases of misconduct, including bribery, corruption, and academic credential irregularities.
The decisions were announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the Kano State Judiciary, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, following the commission’s 90th meeting held on July 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Judge of Kano State.
According to the statement, the commission adopted the recommendations of the Establishment Committee and the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC) after reviewing petitions and disciplinary matters involving judicial officers and court staff.
The commission ordered the compulsory retirement of Aliyu Muhammad, the Presiding Judge of the Shari’a Court in Babeji, after the JPCC found him guilty of bribery and corruption in relation to Suit No. CV/474/2024 between Talatu Ibrahim and Muntari Abubakar Baguda.
He was also directed to refund the ₦250,000 he allegedly received as gratification in connection with the case.
In the same matter, Court Clerk Ibrahim Ibrahim was suspended without pay for four months after admitting that he received part of the bribe.
The commission also approved the compulsory retirement of the Acting Director of Information and Statistics at the Shari’a Court of Appeal, Muzambilu Ado, after an investigation uncovered serious irregularities in his academic credentials, including alleged alterations to his academic records and irregular admission into the Nigerian Law School without the commission’s approval.
Meanwhile, the Presiding Judge of the Upper Shari’a Court in Goron Dutse, Usman Haruna Usman, was demoted by one grade level for negligence after allowing proceeds from the sale of estate property to be paid into the personal account of a court official, thereby exposing litigants’ funds to possible misappropriation.
The commission also ratified his earlier one-year suspension from judicial duties and issued him a strong warning.
Similarly, the Presiding Judge of the Upper Shari’a Court in Kasuwa, Abdullahi Wayya, received a strong warning over negligence in supervising bail procedures in Case No. CR/172/2022 between the Commissioner of Police and Muhammad Kadawa, which led to the release of a defendant without proper verification of title documents submitted as bail security.
The commission further directed that Inspector Shehu Adamu be reported to the Kano State Commissioner of Police for investigation and possible disciplinary action after he allegedly misled the court by confirming that all bail conditions had been met.
It also ordered the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee to investigate the roles of Registrar of Records, Salmanu Zubairu, and Finance Registrar, Ahmad Kabir, in the handling of the bail documents in the same case.
The Judicial Service Commission reaffirmed its commitment to promoting integrity, accountability, and professionalism within the Kano State Judiciary, warning that acts of corruption, misconduct, or abuse of office by judicial officers and court personnel would continue to attract appropriate disciplinary sanctions.
