Judicial commission dismisses three corrupt senior officers, demotes one

The Niger Judicial Service Commission says it has dismissed three senior staff from service and demoted one with two grade levels for alleged misconduct.

A statement on Monday by Hauwa Isah, the commission’s secretary, alleged that Mohammed Abubakar, Ahmed Usman, Usman Isah from the High Court Division, and Fatima Sambo were sanctioned.

The judicial commission demoted Ms Sambo by two grade levels.

The commission stated that the dismissal resulted from alleged serious misconduct, contravening provision 58 of the commission’s regulations.

Mr Abubakar refused to proceed on a transfer and did not report for duty from November 2023 to date without leave or reasonable cause.

“In his response to a query by the commission, he admitted to being a personal assistant to a traditional ruler for some years now,” said the commission’s statement.

According to her, in exercising its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the commission held its 143rd emergency meeting on Thursday.

“The commission dismissed three staff and demoted one under the provisions of Regulations 72 and 73 of the Commission’s Regulations 2018. The three dismissed staff members, who are all from the High Court division, are Mohammed Abubakar (Galadiman Raba Nupe), Ahmed Usman, and Usman Isah, while Fatima Sambo was demoted by two grade levels.

“The dismissal of the three staff was as a result of acts amounting to serious misconduct in contravention of regulation 58 of the commission’s regulations,” the statement explained.

It added that it found the officers’ actions reprehensible.

Mr Usman, a senior registrar at the probate department, was indicted for gross misconduct and misappropriation. Mr Usman was found to have misappropriated funds of over N600,000 by an investigating committee.

“This action contravened the provision of regulation 58 (1) (III) (V) & (VI),” the statement said.

Mr Isah, a principal registrar, II attached to Magistrate Court 3, Minna, was found guilty of being absent from duty without leave or reasonable cause under regulation 58 (1) (III).

Mr Isah was found to have abandoned his duty post for over six months.

Ms 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 said it applied “the appropriate sanctions” against errant workers to safeguard the judiciary’s integrity and maintain public confidence in the system.