Kano Judicial Commission Retires Judge Over Bribery, Sanctions Court Officials

The Kano State Judicial Service Commission has orderd compulsory retirement of a Sharia Court judge over bribery and imposed disciplinary measures on several other judicial officers and court staff following investigations into allegations of misconduct.

The sanctions were approved during the Commission’s 90th meeting held on July 3, 2026, after it considered reports and recommendations of the Judicial Public Complaints Committee on petitions involving judges and court personnel.

In a statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson for the Kano State Courts, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, the Commission said the decisions were taken after careful deliberations and were aimed at upholding “integrity, accountability and public confidence in the administration of justice.”

The Commission ordered the immediate compulsory retirement of Hon. Judge Aliyu Yahaya Muhammad of the Bebeji Sharia Court after the committee established allegations that he received a N250,000 bribe in Suit No. CV/474/2024 between Talatu Ibrahim and Muntari Abubakar Baguda.

“The Commission also directed him to refund the N250,000 received as a bribe,” the statement said.

In the same case, Ibrahim Ahmad Ibrahim, Registrar of the Bebeji Sharia Court, was suspended without pay for four months after admitting to receiving part of the money obtained as a bribe.

The Commission also approved the compulsory retirement of Muzambilu Ado, Acting Director of Public Relations at the Kano State Sharia Court of Appeal, following an investigation that uncovered “serious irregularities” in his academic credentials, including the alteration of educational records and irregular entry into the judicial service.

Meanwhile, Hon. Judge Usman Haruna Usman of the Goron Dutse Upper Sharia Court was demoted by one grade level for negligence after allowing proceeds from the sale of attached property to be paid into a court staff member’s personal account, leading to the loss of litigants’ funds.

In another case, the Commission cautioned Hon. Judge Abdullahi Wayya of the Kasuwa Sharia Court over his handling of bail in Case No. CR/172/2022 involving the Commissioner of Police and Muhammad Musa Kadawa.

According to the statement, the judge was found negligent “for failing to properly supervise the bail process,” which resulted in the defendant being released without verification of the property documents presented as bail.

The Commission further directed that the report on Inspector Shehu Adamu be forwarded to the Kano State Police Command for investigation and possible disciplinary action after the inquiry found that he had “misled the court by certifying that all bail conditions had been fulfilled.”

It also ordered a thorough investigation into the roles played by court cashiers Salmanu Zubairu and Ahmad Kabir in processing the bail documents.

The Commission, however, overturned its earlier decision suspending Hon. Judge Umar Sunusi Danbaba (PhD) after reviewing additional documents submitted by the Judicial Public Complaints Committee.

It said the fresh documents showed that the committee had not recommended his removal from judicial duties. Consequently, the Commission lifted his suspension with effect from July 3, restored his full salary and benefits, and directed him to resume work.

Reaffirming its commitment to judicial integrity, the Commission declared that it “remains committed to upholding the highest standards of ethics, professionalism and discipline” within Kano State’s judiciary.

It warned that “any act of misconduct, corruption or abuse of office by judicial officers or court staff will attract appropriate disciplinary action.”