EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Judge attempts to steal funds from frozen bank account of petitioner

The Judicial Service Commission in Kano has taken disciplinary actions against three magistrates and a registrar of the Kano High Court over misconduct, with a magistrate caught attempting to steal funds from a frozen bank account.

This was announced in a statement signed by the spokesman for the JSC, Baba Jibo-Ibrahim, on Monday.

“The Judicial Service Commission, at its 72nd meeting held on June 11, 2024, considered petitions against the three magistrates and one registrar in the state. The magistrates are Chief Magistrate Talatu Makama, Senior Magistrate Rabi Abdulkadir, Chief Magistrate Tijjani Saleh-Minjibir, and Senior Registrar Abdu Nasir.

“These disciplinary actions underscore the Judicial Service Commission’s commitment to maintaining highest standards of judicial conduct and ensuring the integrity of the legal system,” Mr Jibo-Ibrahim said.

The statement said that the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee’s investigation of three petitions filed against Ms Makama found her guilty of misconduct.

According to the statement, the investigation revealed that she ordered GTBank to transfer money from a petitioner’s already frozen account into her personal account, which she clearly admitted in her response.

It said the second petition also found elements amounting to judicial bias in her handling of matters.

According to the statement, in the third petition, she was found to have received a case and made an 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,” Mr Jibo-Ibrahim said.

He said the JSC also indicted Senior Magistrate Rabi Abdulkadir of judicial recklessness.

“The commission has resolved to recall the magistrate and relieve her of judicial duties for a period of one calendar year and has instructed her to cease all duties at Magistrate Court No. 48,” Mr Jibo-Ibrahim said.

He further said that the investigation revealed that senior registrar Abdu Nasir received payments of fees meant for court records into his personal account, which constitutes serious misconduct.

“The commission issued a strong warning to Nasir and also deferred his promotion for one year,” the spokesman said.

The statement added that the commission also deliberated on the petitions received against Chief Magistrate Tijjani Saleh-Minjibir at its 73rd meeting.

“The response to the queries issued were found unsatisfactory and the commission viewed the actions of the magistrate amount to serious misconduct and judicial recklessness. Saleh-Minjibir is recalled from judicial duties for a period of one year, effective immediately, and is ceased of all judicial activities,” Mr Jibo-Ibrahim said.

He said the suspended magistrate was to report to the Kano High Court for posting.

The statement said the commission would continue applying appropriate sanctions against any erring staff, particularly those saddled with judicial responsibilities.

It said the measures were intended to safeguard the integrity and accountability of the judicial system and maintain the public’s confidence.

(NAN)