Kano judge sacked over ₦250,000 bribery case

The Kano State Judicial Service Commission has compulsorily retired a Shari’a Court judge, Alkali Aliyu Yahaya Muhammad, after finding him guilty of bribery and corruption in connection with a civil case.

The decision was taken during the Commission’s 90th meeting held on July 3, 2026, and chaired by the Chief Judge of Kano State.

The disciplinary action was disclosed in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Kano State Judicial Service Commission, Baba Jibo Ibrahim on Monday.

“Alkali Aliyu Yahaya Muhammad, who served as the Presiding Judge of the Shari’a Court in Babeji, was found to have collected a ₦250,000 gratification in the course of handling a civil suit,” the statement said.

The Commission directed him to proceed on compulsory retirement and ordered him to refund the ₦250,000 he received.

The Commission also sanctioned Ibrahim Ahmad Ibrahim, a court clerk attached to the same court, after he admitted sharing in the bribe.

“He was suspended from duty without salary for four months,” the statement added.

In another disciplinary measure, the Commission directed Muzambilu Ado, the Acting Director of Information and Statistics at the Shari’a Court of Appeal, to proceed on compulsory retirement over irregularities relating to his academic records and admission into the Nigerian Law School.

The Commission also punished Alkali Usman Haruna Usman, Presiding Judge of the Upper Shari’a Court in Goron Dutse, by demoting him by one grade level for negligence.

According to the statement, he allowed proceeds from the sale of an estate to be paid into the personal account of a court official.

He was also issued a warning, while the Commission ratified its earlier decision recalling him from judicial duties.

Similarly, Alkali Abdullahi Wayya of the Upper Shari’a Court, Kasuwa, received a warning over negligence in supervising a bail process that resulted in the improper release of a defendant.

“The Commission referred Inspector Shehu Adamu to the Commissioner of Police for investigation after he was alleged to have misled the court on bail conditions. It also directed further investigation into the roles of court registrars Salmanu Zubairu and Ahmad Kabir in the handling of bail documents,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Commission reviewed the case of Hon. Alkali Umar Sunusi Danbaba (PhD) and reversed its earlier decision recalling him from judicial duties.

It explained that fresh documents showed the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee had not recommended his recall.

As a result, the Commission restored him to full judicial duties, along with his salary and other entitlements.

Reaffirming its commitment to accountability, the Commission said it would continue to uphold integrity within the judiciary.