The Kebbi High Court has set up an administrative panel to investigate allegations of misconduct against a Chief Magistrate accused of slapping a lawyer and two others.

A statement by the Chief Registrar, Kebbi High Court, Hussaini Abdullahi-Zuru, issued in Birnin Kebbi on Friday said that Umar Salihu-Kokami of Chief Magistrates’ Court III, Birnin Kebbi, has been recalled to the headquarters for judicial misconduct.

A report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted him as saying: “There was an allegation of gross and judicial misconduct against him by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, that on Sept. 12, he slapped a State Counsel, Abdullahi Bawa Dan Bauchi and two other persons.

“The act took place at the premises of Chief Magistrate Court I, Birnin Kebbi, which he was assigned to take over a case against some staff of the Ministry of High Education.

“Accordingly, the office of the Chief Registrar hereby directs his recall to the headquarters, pending the outcome of the report of an Administrative Committee set up to investigate the matter.”

Abdullahi-Zuru in the statement also disclosed that another Chief Magistrate, Mustapha Umar-Maccido, was alleged to have absconded from duty and has consequently been suspended while being investigated.

His words: “Chief Magistrate Mustapha Umar-Maccido was reasonably suspected to have absconded from his duty post, Chief Magistrates Court, Kalgo, since Sept. 2022, after the expiration of his two weeks casual leave.

“He was alleged to have been in private practice in other jurisdictions even though he is a serving Chief Magistrate.

“Accordingly, he is hereby suspended pending the report of an Administrative Committee set up to investigate the matter.”