Niger State: Three Judicial Officers Sanctioned For Misconduct

By Ayodele Oni

Three Judicial Officers in the employment of the Niger State Judicial Service Commission, (NJSC) have been reprimanded for various offences ranging from misconduct and abuse of power.

NJSC dismissed from service the Magistrate in  Salka in Magama Local Government Council of the State, Mohammed Bako Iya over gross misconduct and abuse of Judicial power.

Secretary to the commission, Abdulrahman Ahmed Garafini disclosed this at a media briefing in Minna.

The NJSC Secretary noted that the decisions of the Commission were taken at its 136th meeting after consideration of the recommendations by committees set up to investigate petitions against the Judges.

According to him, out of seven petitions, three were against the dismissed Magistrate, adding that two were sufficiently proved by the petitioners.

Garafini however added that the report and recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Mohammed led committee also indicted Mohammed Bako, as a judicial officer, by representing and shielding a suspect, Saba Idris from arrest by police and court.

Ahmed Garafini further explained that the Commission announced the demotion by one grade level of two sharia court judges, Abdullahi Nasiru the Sharia Judge of Kotun Bola Minna and his colleague in Badeggi, Mohammed Baba Enagi for misconduct and abuse of office.

Similarly he said they are also to serve a tutelage of one year in other courts.