Nigerian Judge Dismissed for Corruption and Illegal Detention of Innocent Citizen

By Paul Joseph

The Jigawa Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has approved the compulsory retirement of Sharia court judge Sadisu Muhammad-Haruna over allegations of corruption and the illegal detention of a citizen.

The decision was announced in a statement on Tuesday following a commission meeting held in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.

According to the commission, the disciplinary action followed a thorough review of a petition submitted by Abdullahi Hamza. After investigating the claims and examining the evidence, the JSC found Mr Muhammad-Haruna guilty of misconduct, including extortion and unlawful detention.

Investigations revealed that the judge demanded and collected fees from the petitioner that were not stipulated in the schedule of court fees under the Jigawa Shari’a Court Civil Procedure Rules (2012).

“This act of extortion, followed by the illegal detention of the petitioner, was deemed a gross violation of judicial ethics and an abuse of office,” the commission stated.

The JSC described the compulsory retirement as a clear signal that it will not tolerate corruption or abuse of power within the judiciary. It reaffirmed its commitment to upholding integrity and ensuring that judicial officers adhere strictly to established laws and regulations.

In a related development, the commission approved the promotion of more than 80 staff members across various categories, describing the move as part of efforts to boost morale and reward excellence within the state’s judicial system.

The commission also announced new appointments within the state Shari’a Court of Appeal. Aliyu Muhammad was named Deputy Chief Registrar (I, Administration), Abdulrashid Alhassan as Deputy Chief Registrar (II, Litigation), Isma’il Sani as Chief Inspector of Shari’a Courts, Umar Malam as Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Muhammad Lawan as Director of Personnel Management, and Kabiru Isyaku as Deputy Chief Inspector.

The JSC assured the public of its continued efforts to sanitise the judicial system and promote accountability at all levels.