The Niger Judicial Service Commission has announced the dismissal of three senior staff members and the demotion of one other by two grade levels due to alleged misconduct.
In a statement released on Monday by Hauwa Isah, the commission’s secretary, it was revealed that Mohammed Abubakar, Ahmed Usman, Usman Isah from the High Court Division, and Fatima Sambo were subjected to disciplinary action.
Ms. Sambo was demoted by two grade levels.
The commission stated that the dismissals stemmed from serious misconduct, which violated provision 58 of the commission’s regulations.
Mr. Abubakar did not report for duty from November 2023 onwards and failed to proceed on a mandatory transfer, without leave or a valid reason. In response to a query from the commission, he acknowledged having served as a personal assistant to a traditional ruler for several years.
The commission exercised its disciplinary authority under the amended 1999 Constitution during its 143rd emergency meeting held on Thursday.
“The commission’s decision to dismiss three staff members and demote one was made in accordance with Regulations 72 and 73 of the Commission’s Regulations 2018. The three dismissed staff members 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 dismissals were due to actions that constituted serious misconduct in violation of regulation 58 of the commission’s regulations,” the statement clarified.
The commission deemed the officers’ actions as reprehensible.
Mr. Usman, a senior registrar in the probate department, was charged with gross misconduct and misappropriation of funds, having been found to have misappropriated over N600,000 according to an investigating committee.
“This action violated regulation 58 (1) (III) (V) & (VI),” the statement noted.
Mr. Isah, a principal registrar II attached to Magistrate Court 3 in Minna, was found guilty of being absent from duty without leave or a reasonable excuse, a violation of regulation 58 (1) (III). He was determined to have abandoned his post for over six months.
Ms. Sambo, also a senior registrar in the probate department, was found guilty of negligent conduct and misappropriation of probate funds by the investigating committee.
The commission emphasized that it applied “the appropriate sanctions” against the errant employees to protect the integrity of the judiciary and maintain public confidence in the system.
