Kano Chief Justice suspended for withdrawing money from frozen bank account

The Kano State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has suspended a judge indefinitely because he allegedly ordered the withdrawal of money from a frozen Bank account to their own.

Talatu Makama was sanctioned along with another judge and a judicial officer of the state Supreme Court, Abdu Nasir, who is also alleged to have received official payments through his personal bank account.

JSC spokesman Baba Jibo-Ibrahim announced this in a statement released in Kano on Monday.

“The Kano State Judicial Service Commission at its 72nd meeting held on June 11, 2024, took disciplinary action against Chief Justice Talatu Makama, Magistrate Court No. 29, Senior Judge Rabi Abdulkadir, Magistrate Court No. 48 and Senior Registrar Abdu Nasir of the Appellate Division, Kano High Court.

“Following the findings of the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC) in relation to three petitions filed and investigated against Chief Justice Talatu Makama, the Commission has adopted the recommendations of the JPCC.

“The JPCC has thoroughly investigated the matter and also reviewed the response of the Chief Magistrate and has concluded that her actions amount to gross misconduct.

“She instructed GT Bank to transfer money from the plaintiff’s already blocked account to her private account, which she clearly admitted in her response,” the official statement said.

The statement said the JPCC had also found elements of judicial bias on the part of the Chief Justice in the second petition.

In the third petition, the Council also found that “her conduct was despicable for a judicial officer as Her Eminence (Lordship) was taking cases and giving orders to the police even before the case was referred to her.”

“Chief Justice Talatu Makama is removed from office as a judge with immediate effect and relieved of all judicial duties (suspended indefinitely),” the statement said.

The spokesman also said another judge, Rabi Abdulkadir, had been suspended for a year after the commission found her negligent handling of a case.

“After reviewing the circumstances surrounding the handling of the case between the Commissioner of Police and Abubakar Salisu by Rabi Abdulkadir, Chief Justice Court No. 48, the Commission concluded that the actions of the Chief Justice amounted to judicial recklessness. The Commission therefore resolved to remove the Judge and relieve him of his judicial duties for a period of one calendar year. He was directed to relinquish all duties at the Chief Justice Court No. 48.”

The JSC also examined the investigation report into the alleged misconduct of the Senior Registrar, Mr. Nasir, of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court and found the response of the Chief Magistrate of Court 60, Tijjani Minjibir, unsatisfactory and therefore also imposed a penalty for misconduct.

“The report confirmed that Abdu Nasir received payments of fees intended for court records into his personal account, which constitutes serious misconduct.

“As a result, the commission has issued a stern warning to Abdu Nasir and postponed his promotion for one year,” the spokesman said.

“The Commission also discussed the petitions received against the Supreme Court 60 headed by Tijjani Saleh Minjibir at its 73rd meeting on 20 June 2024. The answers to the questions posed were found to be unsatisfactory.

“The Commission assessed the actions of the Chief Justice as serious misconduct and judicial recklessness and unanimously decided to remove Tijjani Saleh Minjibir from his judicial duties with immediate effect for a period of one year. He is to cease all judicial activities and report to the Supreme Court headquarters for transfer,” said Mr Jibo-Ibrahim.

“The Commission will continue to impose appropriate sanctions on staff who make mistakes, particularly those entrusted with judicial responsibility, in order to protect the integrity and accountability of the judicial system and maintain public confidence.

“These disciplinary measures underscore the Judicial Service Commission’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of judicial conduct and ensuring the integrity of the judicial system,” the JSC warned.