Jigawa Shari’a Court Judge Faces Retirement Over Corruption Allegations

The Jigawa Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has sanctioned the compulsory retirement of Sadisu Muhammad-Haruna, a judge of the Shari’a Court, following allegations of misconduct.

This information was disclosed by Mr. Abba Wangara, the Director of Protocol and Publicity for the JSC, in a statement made in Dutse on Tuesday.

In addition to the retirement, the JSC also confirmed the promotion of over 80 members of staff in various categories across the commission.

The decision was reached after a meeting held in Dutse, where the commission thoroughly reviewed a petition and substantiated evidence against Muhammad- Haruna.

According to the statement, the investigation revealed that the judge had solicited and accepted fees from the petitioner that were not listed in the court fees schedule as specified under the Jigawa Shari’a Court Civil Procedure Rules of 2012.

Wangara emphasized that the judge’s act of extortion, coupled with the illegal detention of the petitioner, represented serious breaches of judicial ethics and constituted an abuse of his position.

The JSC declared that the action taken against Muhammad-Haruna serves as a stern warning regarding its intolerance towards corruption and the misuse of authority by judicial officials.

Moreover, the commission noted that the staff promotions were part of efforts to enhance morale and recognize outstanding performance.

Additionally, the JSC announced the appointment of several senior staff to key positions within the state Shari’a 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 Shari’a Courts.

Other appointments included Umar Malam as Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Muhammad Lawan as Director of Personal Management, and Kabiru Isyaku as Deputy Chief Inspector.

The commission reassured the public of its ongoing commitment to improve the integrity of the judicial system and to ensure that judicial officers uphold their duties in accordance with the law and established guidelines. (NAN)