A Magistrate Court Judge in Magama local government area of Niger State, Mohammed Bako Iya, has been dismissed and two Sharia Court Judges, Abdullahi Nasiru and Mohammed Baba Enagi have been demoted by Niger Judicial Service Commission.

Iya was dismissed for gross misconduct and abuse of judicial power while the other judges were demoted for misconduct and abuse of office and they are to also serve a one-year tutelage in other courts.

The two demoted judges were Sharia Court Judges in Minna and Badeggi.

Announcing the decision of the Commission to newsmen in Minna, the Secretary of the commission, Abdulrahman Ahmed Garafini said that Judicial Service Commission had the recommendations of the committee set up to investigate the petitions against the judge and dismissed Justice Mohammed Bako with immediate effect.

He said that the decisions of dismissal and demotions against the judges were taken at the 136^th meeting on March, 21.

“The Niger state Judicial Service Commission received seven petitions, out of which three were against the dismissed judge and two of the three were sufficiently proved by the petitioners,” he said.

The allegations against the dismissed Judge include representing and shielding a suspect, Saba Idris from arrest by police and court and using the power of his office to intimidate and collect N400,000 from herders whose cattle destroyed his beans farm.

The Committee led by Justice Mohammed Mohammed discovered that Mohammed Bako was the Judge in his case and used the instrument of his office to facilitate gainful benefit for his personal interest and private affairs. (The Nation)

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