Judicial Commission Sacks Two Court Registrars, Demotes Magistrate Over Corruption, Negligence
Judicial Commission Sacks Two Court Registrars, Demotes Magistrate Over Corruption, Negligence
Among those sanctioned was Magistrate Imam A.A., who was demoted from Grade Level 13 to Grade Level 12 after the Commission found him negligent in supervising a culpable homicide case.
The Kwara State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has dismissed two court registrars and demoted a magistrate over allegations of corruption, negligence, abuse of office and the compromise of judicial processes.
The disciplinary measures were approved during the Commission’s meeting held on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Among those sanctioned was Magistrate Imam A.A., who was demoted from Grade Level 13 to Grade Level 12 after the Commission found him negligent in supervising a culpable homicide case.
According to the JSC, the magistrate failed to properly oversee the bail perfection process, allowing his court registrar to allegedly compromise the procedure by collecting ₦200,000 from the defendant’s relatives and arranging proxy sureties to secure the suspect’s release.
The Commission said the defendant was released on bail but later absconded, resulting in repeated adjournments before the case was eventually terminated without due process.
The matter came under scrutiny after the same defendant was later accused of committing another murder, prompting the Kwara State Commissioner of Police to petition the Commission.
Following the petition, the JSC constituted an investigative committee, which found Magistrate Imam negligent in the discharge of his supervisory responsibilities.
In a related development, the Commission dismissed Mr. Saadullahi Shuaib, a Grade Level 10 officer and former registrar attached to Magistrate Imam at the Chief Magistrate Court in Sango, for gross misconduct.
The JSC said investigations established that Shuaib collected money from the defendant’s relatives to facilitate the bail process, shared part of the proceeds with colleagues and failed to carry out the mandatory verification of sureties with the court orderly before the defendant was released.
According to the Commission, the registrar’s actions compromised the judicial process and breached the ethical standards expected of judicial officers.
The Commission also dismissed Mr. Bisade Adebarade Philips, a registrar attached to Hon. Justice Oluwatosin Adeniyi, over allegations of extortion, abuse of office and other unethical conduct.
The JSC said the investigation followed petitions from litigants and legal practitioners accusing Philips of demanding and collecting illegal payments before carrying out official court duties.
According to the Commission, Philips collected ₦12,000 instead of the official ₦2,700 fee for issuing a divorce certificate on June 26, 2026.
It further alleged that he bypassed the statutory payment process through the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) and signed the certificate without the required authorisation.
Although Philips admitted some of the allegations before the investigative committee, the JSC said witness testimony and documentary evidence established a pattern of extortion, including repeatedly demanding money from litigants and lawyers before releasing court orders and certified judgments.
The Commission said the sanctions were imposed in line with the Public Service Rules, stressing that corruption, negligence, abuse of office and any compromise of judicial processes would not be tolerated within the Kwara State judiciary.
Beyond the disciplinary actions, the JSC approved several administrative measures, including the confirmation of Mr. Shola Ayenigba as the substantive Chief Accountant after serving in an acting capacity, and the transfer of Magistrate Nimat Abdulrazaq from the Kwara State Judiciary to the Federal Judicial Service Commission in Abuja.
The Commission also approved immediate cash-backing for promotions due in January 2025, July 2025 and January 2026, with the financial implementation taking effect from July 2026.
It congratulated the affected officers and urged judicial staff to uphold integrity, transparency, accountability and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
