The Kano State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has sanctioned three magistrates and a registrar of the state High Court over misconduct.
The magistrates are Chief Magistrate Talatu Makama, Senior Magistrate Rabi Abdulkadir, Chief Magistrate Tijjani Saleh-Minjibir, and Senior Registrar Abdu Nasir.
The spokesperson of the Kano State Judiciary, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, said revealed on Monday in Kano, adding that the decision was taken at the commission’s 72nd meeting held on June 11, 2024, where it considered petitions against the three magistrates and the registrar in the state.
Ibrahim said investigation by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee in respect of three petitions filed against Makama found her guilty after she ordered the GT Bank to transfer money in a petitioner’s account already frozen, into her personal account, and which she clearly admitted in her response.
It said the second petition also found elements amounting to judicial bias in her handling of a matters, while in the third petition, she was found to have received a case and made order to the police even before the case was assigned to her.
“The commission subsequently held that Chief Magistrate Talatu, be recalled from the bench and relieved of all judicial duties effective immediately,” Ibrahim said.
He said the commission also indicted Senior Magistrate Rabi Abdulkadir of judicial recklessness
and was suspended for one year.
Senior Registrar Abdu Nasir was accused of diverting payments of fees meant for court records, and had his promotion deferred for one year, the spokesperson said.
He said Chief Magistrate Tijjani Saleh-Minjibir’s response to a querry emanating from a petition against him was unsatisfactory as the commission also accused him of judicial recklessness.
“Saleh-Minjibir is recalled from judicial duties for one year, effective immediately, and is ceased of all judicial activities,” Jibo-Ibrahim said.
He said the suspended magistrate was to report to the state High Court for posting.
