Kano Judicial Service Commission retires Sharia Court judge over alleged N250k bribe

The Kano State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has compulsorily retired a Sharia Court judge and a senior court official, while sanctioning other judicial officers in a sweeping disciplinary exercise aimed at strengthening integrity and accountability within the state’s judiciary.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson of the Kano State Judiciary, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, the decisions were taken during the Commission’s 90th meeting held on July 3, 2026, after it considered reports submitted by the Judicial Public Complaints Committee on allegations of misconduct involving judges and court personnel.

“Among those sanctioned was Judge Aliyu Yahaya Muhammad of the Babeji Sharia Court, who was ordered to proceed on compulsory retirement after an investigation found him guilty of receiving a N250,000 bribe in connection with Suit No. CV/474/2024 between Talatu Ibrahim and Muntari Abubakar Baguda” the statement added.

The commission also directed the judge to refund the N250,000 he allegedly received as a bribe.

In the same case, Ibrahim Ahmad Ibrahim, a court registrar at the Babeji Sharia Court, was suspended without pay for four months after admitting to receiving part of the bribe.

Also affected was Muzambilu Ado, Acting Director of Public Relations and Statistics at the Sharia Court of Appeal, who was compulsorily retired following findings that he falsified his academic credentials and was irregularly employed into the judicial service.

The commission further demoted Judge Usman Haruna Usman of the Goron Dutse Upper Sharia Court by one grade level for negligence after allowing proceeds from the sale of property in a court matter to be paid into a court employee’s account, resulting in the loss of litigants’ funds. It also upheld his earlier one-year suspension from judicial duties and issued him a strong warning.

Announcing the decisions, the spokesperson of the Kano State Judiciary, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, said the disciplinary measures underscored the Commission’s resolve to uphold ethical standards in the administration of justice.

“The Kano State Judicial Service Commission remains committed to upholding integrity, professionalism and ethical standards in the administration of justice,” Ibrahim said.

He added that judicial officers and court staff must conduct themselves in a manner that sustains public confidence in the judiciary, warning that misconduct, corruption and abuse of office would continue to attract appropriate disciplinary action.