Jigawa Judicial Commission Retires Sharia Court Judge for Misconduct

The Jigawa State Judicial Service Commission has approved the compulsory retirement of a Sharia Court judge, Sadisu Muhammad-Haruna, following his conviction for corruption and illegal detention.

The commission also announced the promotion of over 80 staff members across various categories during a meeting held in Dutse, the state capital.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the commission’s Director of Protocol and Publicity, Abba Wangara, said the decision to retire Muhammad-Haruna came after a thorough investigation into a petition submitted by one Abdullahi Hamza.

According to Wangara, the investigation revealed that the judge demanded and collected charges or fees from the petitioner that were not authorised under the Jigawa Sharia Court Civil Procedure Rules (2012). This act of extortion was followed by the illegal detention of the petitioner, which the commission described as a gross violation of judicial ethics and an abuse of office.

“The compulsory retirement of Muhammad-Haruna serves as a clear warning that the commission will not tolerate any form of corruption or abuse of power by judicial officers,” the statement read.

In a separate development, the commission approved the promotion of over 80 staff members, a move aimed at boosting morale and rewarding excellence within the judiciary.

The commission also appointed several senior staff to key positions in the state Sharia Court of Appeal. Those appointed include Aliyu Muhammad as Deputy Chief Registrar I (Administration), Abdulrashid Alhassan as Deputy Chief Registrar II (Litigation), and Isma’il Sani as Chief Inspector of Sharia Courts.

Other appointees are Umar Malam as Director of Planning, Research and Statistics; Muhammad Lawan as Director of Personnel Management; and Kabiru Isyaku as Deputy Chief Inspector.

The commission assured the public of its continued commitment to sanitising the judicial system and ensuring that all officers and staff perform their duties in accordance with the law and established regulations.