The two other judges who are Sharia court judges were demoted by one grade level over misconduct and abuse of office.
Justice Mohamed Bako of the Magistrate Court in Salka, Magama Local Government Area of Niger State has been sacked with immediate effect while two others were demoted.
The two other judges who are Sharia court judges were demoted by one grade level over misconduct and abuse of office.
The Niger State Judicial Service Commission sacked Bako for allegedly shielding a suspect identified as Saba Idris, from arrest by police and court, The PUNCH reported. He was also accused of gross misconduct and abuse of judicial power.
Bako’s sacking was made known on Wednesday in Minna, Niger State capital by the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, Abdulrahman Garafini.
According to Garafini, the commission took the decision at its 136th meeting on March 21, 2023, after consideration of the recommendations of the committee led by Justice Mohammed Mohammed which was set up to look into petitions against the judge.
According to the Commission’s Secretary, the report indicted Bako for setting aside his duties in the judiciary by representing and shielding a suspect.
Garafini said that out of seven petitions received, three were brought against Bako and two were sufficiently proved by the petitioners.
He added that the judge admitted the allegations brought against him.
“It was further discovered that Mohammed Bako was a judge in his own case and used the instrument of his office to facilitate a gainful benefit for his personal interest and private affairs, hence, the NJSC approved the committee’s recommendations and dismissed the respondent with immediate effect,” he said.