Kano Sanctions Two Judges, Court Registrars

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Two Judges of the Kano State Judiciary have been slammed with disciplinary  measures by the State Judicial Service Commission over perceived professional misconducts.

While Mansur Ibrahim of the Upper Shariah Court was issued with a warning over the use of  inappropriate language against a litigant, his counterpart, Nasiru Ahmed was given a query, and subsequently, served a cautionary letter for conducts suggestive of personal interests in a matter involving a judgment debt.

A statement from the spokesperson for the Commission, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, on said the disciplinary measures were sequel to the adaptation of the report of an investigative committee by the  Commission during its 80th Meeting.

“In line with its mandate, the Commission adopted the recommendations of the investigations carried out by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee, and resolved to suspend two Court Registrars, and issue formal warnings to two Upper Shariah Court Judges whose conducts fall short of expected standards”, the Commission noted

According to the statement, the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee had  recommended the measure against Justice Ahmad for ordering the unlawful detention of a judgment debtor, a move  which was indicative of personal interest, as well as open compromise of judicial impartiality.

The Commission warned that Judicial Officers, should, at all times, exercise discretionary powers with a sense of fairness, justice and  objectivity so as not to erode public confidence and trust in the system.

In the same vein, the  Commission, slammed  a six-month suspension without pay on Ibrahim Adamu, a Principal Registrar 2 with the State High Court for engaging in a verbal assault and attempted physical combat with a superior personnel.

Adamu who is to also have his routine promotion exercise differed was said to have, not long ago committed same offence, as a result of which he was  queried ,and found guilty of gross misconduct.

For demanding and accepting what the Commission described as improper gratification, Maigida Lawan, a Principal Registrar with the Shariah Upper  Court, was demoted from grade level 13 to 12, in addition to a six-month suspension without salary.