By Awwal Umar Kontagora Three senior staff members of the Niger State Judiciary have been dismissed from service for serious official misc...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
Three senior staff members of the Niger State Judiciary have been dismissed from service for serious official misconduct, while another was demoted by two grade levels.
The three dismissed from the High Court division are Mohammed Abubakar, Ahmed Usman, and Usman Isah, while Fatima Sambo was demoted by two grade levels.
Their dismissal was announced in a press statement signed by the Secretary of the Niger State Judicial Service Commission (NSJC), Hajiya Hauwa Kulu Isah, Esq., and made available to newsmen in Minna on Monday. The statement indicated that the dismissals resulted from acts of serious misconduct in violation of Provision 58 of the Commission’s regulations.
One of the dismissed staff members, Mohammed Abubakar, who holds the traditional title of Galadiman Raba Nupe in Nupe land, was found culpable under Regulation 58 (1) (1) (111) and (v) for disobedience to lawful orders, including refusing to proceed on transfer and being absent from duty from November 2023 to date without leave or reasonable cause.
In his response to a query from the Commission, Abubakar admitted to serving as a personal assistant to a traditional ruler for several years.
The press statement further detailed that the Niger State Judicial Service Commission, exercising its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), at its 143rd emergency meeting held on August 22, 2024, dismissed three staff members and demoted one under the provisions of Regulations 72 and 73 of the Commission's Regulations 2018.
The three dismissed staff members, all from the High Court division, are Mohammed Abubakar (Galadiman Raba Nupe), Ahmed Usman, and Usman Isah. Meanwhile, Fatima Sambo was demoted by two grade levels.
The dismissal of these staff members was due to acts amounting to serious misconduct in violation of Regulation 58 of the Commission's Regulations.
The Commission found their actions highly reprehensible and constituting serious misconduct.
Ahmed Usman, a senior registrar at the probate department, was indicted for gross misconduct and misappropriation. An investigating committee found that he had misappropriated funds amounting to over ₦600,000.
"This action contravened the provisions of Regulation 58 (1) (III) (V) & (VI)."
Usman Isah, a principal registrar II attached to Magistrate Court 3, Minna, was found guilty of being absent from duty without leave or reasonable cause, in violation of Regulation 58 (1) (III). He had abandoned his duty post for over six months.
Fatima Sambo, a senior registrar at the probate department, was found guilty of negligent conduct and misappropriation of probate funds by an investigating committee.
"The Commission reiterated its resolve to apply appropriate sanctions against erring staff to safeguard the integrity of the judiciary and maintain public confidence in the system," the statement concluded.
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