Fraud: Kano Judicial Service Commission dismisses court registrar, demotes another, sanctions other officials
The Kano Judicial Service Commission, JSC, on Friday said it sacked a court registrar and sanctioned six court officials over alleged fraud, extortion and forgery.
According to Baba Jibo Ibrahim, the spokesman for the Commission, the decision was taken during its 74th meeting held on 22nd July, 2024.
Ibrahim disclosed that the Judiciary Public Complaint Committee, JPCC, investigated a petition brought against two court registrars (Mustapha Makama, Registrar C.M.C 27, and Yusuf Muhammad Yakasai, Registrar C.M.C 14 Gyadi-Gyadi) who conspired and extorted the sum of N130,000 from a petitioner under the guise of releasing a suspect on bail, which turned out to be false.
The Committee concluded that their action amounted to extortion and conspiracy, involving unlawful receipt of funds.
Acting on the recommendation of the JPCC, the Commission directed Mustapha Makama to proceed on compulsory retirement, having been found not to be fit and proper to continue in the service of the judiciary, while Yusuf Muhammad Yakasai, who is an accessory to the misconduct, was demoted one grade level downward.
“The JPCC also investigated a petition against a syndicate comprising Salisu Ado (Secretary at High Court Complex Bompai), Bilya Abdullahi (Senior Registrar High Court No. 9), Ismail Garba and Auwalu Ibrahim Khalil (Court Registrars) and found their action amount to conspiracy, forgery and cheating by issuance of forged bank reversal court order and also forging the signature of a magistrate.
“The Judicial Service Commission upon adoption of the recommendation of the JPCC has suspended the above mentioned staff with immediate effect.
“The Commission will continue to apply the appropriate sanctions against any erring staff particularly those saddled with judicial responsibilities in order to safeguard the integrity and accountability of the judicial system and maintain public confidence,” the statement added.
