Niger Judiciary dismisses staff, demote other over misconduct

Three Senior Staff of the Niger state Judiciary has been dismissed from the service over official misconduct while one other was demoted with two grade.

The three dismissed who are all from the High court division include, Mohammed Abubakar , Ahmed Usman and Usman Isah while Fatima Sambo was demoted by two grade levels.

Their dismissal was contained in a press statement signed by the Secretary Niger State Judicial Service Commission (NSJC) Hajiya Hauwa Kulu Isah Esq, and made available to CAPITAL POST in Minna Monday, disclosed that it was as result of acts amounting to serious misconduct in contravention of regulation 58 of the commission regulation.

The three dismissed staff one of who is a traditional title holder in Nupe land Mohammed Abubakar (Galadima Raba Nupe) according to Hajiya Kulu Isah, ” was found culpable under regulation 58 (1) (1) (111) and (v) for refusing to proceed on transfer.

“In his response to a query by the commission, he admitted to being a personal assistant to a traditional ruler for at least some years”

The press statement which read in part:, stated that ,

“The Niger State Judicial Service Commission in the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the1999 Constitution (as amended),has at its 143rd emergency meeting held on the 22nd of August 2024,dismissed three staff and demoted one under the provisions of Regulations 72 and 73 of the Commission’s Regulations 2018..

“The three dismissed staff who are all from the High Court division are: Mohammed Abubakar (Galadima 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 Commissions Regulations.

. The Commission found his actions highly reprehensible and a serious misconduct.
Ahmed Usman, a senior registrar at the probate department, was indicted for gross misconduct and misappropriation. He was found to have misappropriated funds to the tune of over #600,000 by an investigating committee.

“This action contravened the provision 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, under regulation 58 (1) (III).He was found to have abandoned his duty post for over six (6) months.

Fatima Sambo, a senior registrar at the probate department, was found guilty of negligence 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.”