Having been found guilty of purchasing a property that was subject to litigation before him, the Kogi State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has ordered the compulsory retirement of Judge Alemeru Adekunle Bamidele of an Area Court in the state.
Also, a magistrate, Tanimu U. Muhammed has been suspended from adjudicatory duties for a period of two years and issued a warning letter.
According to a report by PUNCH, these decisions were reached at the Commission’s 136th meeting held in Lokoja, and disclossed in a statement released on Thursday by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Tanko Muhammed.
Providing details on the development, Dr. Muhammed said the actions followed recommendations made by the Commission’s Disciplinary Committee, which first investigated the allegations.
“The allegations against the officers were first investigated by the Commission’s Disciplinary Committee, which made appropriate recommendations to the JSC,” he said.
The retired judge, Bamidele, was found guilty of misconduct for purchasing a property that was subject to litigation before him. According to the Commission, he ordered the sale of the building, acquired it himself, failed to complete the payment, and went on to issue a court order without granting both parties a hearing.
“The sacked judge was found to have bought a building which was the subject matter of litigation before him, after ordering the sale of the same and refused to make full payment for the property. He was found to have issued a court order without hearing both parties,” Muhammed explained.
In the same meeting, the JSC cleared four other judicial officers of wrongdoing after reviewing allegations against them. They include Magistrate Abdul Musa Mopah, Mr. Yunusa Medugu, Deborah O. Ebiloma Esq., and Anuhi Safiya Oiza.
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Meanwhile, the Commission has also inaugurated a six-man committee to explore ways of enhancing the welfare of magistrates and area court judges across the state. The committee is chaired by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Muizudeen Abdullah.
PUNCH
