Judiciary Sacks Judge, Demotes Two Over Misconduct, Abuse Of Office

A Magistrates Court Judge in Salka, Magama Local Government Area of Niger state has been fired with immediate effect by Niger Judicial Service Commission (NJSC).

The judge was sacked over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of judicial power.

This was made known by the Secretary of the commission, Abdulrahman Garafini, in Minna, on Wednesday.

Garafini noted that the decision of the commission was taken at the Commission’s 136th meeting on March 21, 2023, after consideration of the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Mohammed-led committee set up to look into petitions against the judges.

According to Garafini, out of seven petitions, three were against Iya, two were sufficiently proved by the petitioners and the judge unequivocally admitted the allegations brought against him.

He revealed that the report indicted Mohamed Bako for setting aside his duties in the judiciary by representing and shielding a suspect, Saba Idris, from arrest by police and court.

The secretary revealed that he was also indicted in a second petition over the alleged use of the power of his office to intimidate and collect the sum of N400,000 from Fulani Herders whose cattle destroyed his beans farm.

“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,”.Garafini added.

In addition, the commission also demoted by one grade level, two sharia court judges over misconduct and abuse of office.

The affected judicial officers are Abdullahi Nasiru, the Sharia Judge of Kotun Bola Minna and his colleague in Badeggi, Mohammed Baba Enagi.

Garafini disclosed that Nasiru and Enagi are also to serve a tutelage of one year in other courts.