Niger NJC Dismisses Magistrate for Misconduct

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State Judicial Service Commission (NJC) has dismissed from service a magistrate for alleged professional misconduct and abuse of office.

The NJC also yesterday downgraded two Sharia Court Judges by one grade level.

The Secretary of the commission, Alhaji  Abdulrahman Ahmed Garafini, who disclosed this while briefing joournalists in Minna, the state capital, yesterday, disclosed that the downgraded Sharia Court Judges would be made to undergo one year tutelage under senior Judges.

The NJC secretary explained that the decisions were taken at the 136th meeting of the commission held on March 21, 2023, after consideration of recommendations by a committee set up to investigate petitions against the Judges.

Garafini explained that out of seven petitions, three were against the dismissed Judge, adding that two were sufficiently proved by the petitioners.

“According to the findings of the committee, the allegations in the petition i.e. interference, obstruction of justice and abuse of judicial power, against the Judge were sufficiently proved by the petitioner,” adding that the respondent  also owned up to the allegations.

Garafini said the report and recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Mohammed-led committee also indicted him for practically jettisoning his call as a judicial officer by representing and shielding a suspect from arrest by the police and the court.

He said the Judge was also indicted

in a second petition for using  his power  to intimidate and collect the sum of N400,000 from Fulani herders.

The committee, the NJSC scribe said, discovered that the sacked Judge “was a Judge in his own case, and used instrument of his office to facilitate a gainful benefit for his personal interest and private affairs.