Kano judiciary retires 2 officials, demotes Sharia judge, suspends clerk
The Kano State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has compulsorily retired two judicial officers, suspended a court clerk without pay, and demoted a Sharia Court judge.
The commission also ordered an investigation into a police inspector and two other court officials over alleged complicity in a bail scandal.
The disciplinary actions were finalized during the JSC’s 90th meeting held on Friday, July 3, 2026. The session was chaired by the Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Aboki, according to a statement released on Monday by the judiciary’s spokesperson, Jibo Ibrahim.
Bribery and financial misconduct at Bebeji Sharia Court
The Judiciary Public Complaints Committee found Hon. Alkali Aliyu Muhammad, the Presiding Judge of the Sharia Court in Babeji, guilty of bribery and corruption during a civil suit.
READ ALSO: Kano JSC suspends court officials, judge over drug trafficking, forgery, stealing, indolence
Consequently, the commission approved his compulsory retirement and ordered him to refund N250,000 received as gratification.
In connection with the same case, Ibrahim Ahmad, a clerk at the Babeji Sharia Court, was handed a four-month suspension without pay after confessing to receiving a portion of the bribe money.
Credential forgery and negligence
The crackdown also hit the Sharia Court of Appeal, where Muzambilu Ado, the Acting Director of Information and Statistics, was compulsorily retired. The JSC cited severe irregularities in his academic records, including the alteration of official academic credentials, and securing an irregular admission into the Nigerian Law School without obtaining the necessary approval from the commission.
Meanwhile, Hon. Alkali Usman Haruna, presiding judge of the Upper Sharia Court in Goron Dutse, was demoted by one grade level for negligence. Justice Haruna reportedly allowed proceeds from the sale of an estate property to be deposited into the personal account of a court official, a move the commission noted exposed litigants’ funds to potential misappropriation.
The JSC further ratified his earlier one-year recall from judicial duties and issued him a stern warning.
Fake bail conditions spark police, registrar probe
In a separate incident, the JSC requested the Kano State commissioner of police to launch an investigation into Inspector Shehu Adamu. The inspector is accused of intentionally misleading a court into granting bail to a defendant by falsely claiming that all bail requirements had been fulfilled.
To uncover the full scope of the bail manipulation, the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee has been ordered to investigate two key administrative officials; Salmanu Zubairu (Registrar of Records) and Ahmad Kabir (Finance Registrar). Both men will be scrutinized for their roles in handling and processing the controversial bail documents.
One judge reinstated
Amid the wave of sanctions, the commission reviewed fresh documentation regarding Hon. Alkali Umar Sunusi Danbaba. Following the review, the JSC reversed its earlier decision to recall him.
Judge Danbaba has been fully reinstated to his post with effect from July 3, 2026, with his full salary, entitlements, and judicial responsibilities completely restored.
“These sanctions underscore our unwavering commitment to upholding integrity, accountability, and the highest ethical standards in the administration of justice,” spokesperson Jibo Ibrahim stated. “Acts of corruption, misconduct, and abuse of office will continue to attract appropriate and severe disciplinary action.”
