The Kano State Judicial Service Commission has compulsorily retired a Sharia Court judge and the acting director of information and statistics at the Sharia Court of Appeal over separate cases of misconduct, as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and integrity within the state’s judiciary.
Key Highlight:
- The Kano State Judicial Service Commission compulsorily retired a Sharia Court judge and the acting Director of Information and Statistics over separate cases of misconduct.
- Presiding Judge Babeji Muhammad was found guilty of bribery and corruption, ordered to retire compulsorily, and directed to refund ₦250,000 received as illegal gratification.
- Acting Director Muzambilu Ado was also compulsorily retired after investigators found he manipulated his academic credentials and gained admission to the Nigerian Law School without approval.
- Other disciplinary actions included the demotion of Usman Haruna Usman for negligence, a stern warning to Abdullahi Wayya over bail procedures, and an order for further investigations into other court officials.
- The commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity, warning that corruption, misconduct, and abuse of office within the judiciary would continue to attract strict disciplinary sanctions.
The disciplinary measures were announced after the commission’s 90th meeting held on July 3, 2026, during which reports from the Establishment Committee and the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC) on petitions against judicial officers and court personnel were considered.
The decisions were disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the Kano State Judiciary, Baba Ibrahim.
According to the statement, the commission approved a series of sanctions in line with its constitutional responsibility to uphold discipline, transparency and public confidence in the administration of justice.
Among those affected is the Presiding Judge of the Sharia Court, Babeji Muhammad, who was directed to proceed on compulsory retirement after the JPCC found him guilty of bribery and corruption in relation to suit No. CV/474/2024 involving Talatu Ibrahim and Muntari Baguda.
The commission also ordered the retired judge to refund ₦250,000, which investigators found he had received as illegal gratification.
In the same case, court Clerk, Ibrahim Ibrahim was suspended without pay for four months after admitting that he received part of the money collected as a bribe.
The commission also approved the compulsory retirement of the acting Director of Information and Statistics at the Sharia Court of Appeal, Muzambilu Ado, following findings that he manipulated his academic credentials.
According to the commission, investigations established that Ado altered his academic records and secured admission into the Nigerian Law School without obtaining the required approval from the commission.
In another disciplinary action, the Presiding Judge of the Upper Sharia Court, Goron Dutse, Usman Haruna Usman, was demoted by one grade level for negligence, after allowing proceeds from the sale of estate property to be paid into the personal bank account of a court official, thereby exposing litigants’ funds to possible misappropriation.
The commission also ratified its earlier decision recalling him from judicial duties for one year and issued him a stern warning.
Similarly, the Presiding Judge of the Upper Sharia Court, Kasuwa, Abdullahi Wayya, received a strong warning over his handling of bail proceedings in case No. CR/172/2022 involving the Commissioner of Police and Muhammad Kadawa.
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The commission held that the judge failed to properly supervise the bail process, resulting in the defendant’s release without adequate verification of the title documents presented as bail security.
The commission further directed that Inspector Shehu Adamu be reported to the commissioner of police, Kano State, for investigation and possible disciplinary action after finding that he misled the court by confirming that all bail conditions had been fulfilled when they had not.
It also ordered the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the roles of Registrar (Records) Salmanu Zubairu and Finance Registrar, Ahmad Kabir in the handling of the bail documents connected to the case.
Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining ethical standards within the judiciary, the commission stressed that judicial officers and court personnel must conduct themselves in ways that preserve public trust in the justice system.
It warned that acts of corruption, misconduct, abuse of office or any behaviour capable of undermining the integrity of the judiciary would continue to attract appropriate disciplinary sanctions.
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