Some residents of Mokwa in Niger State have petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the unlawful detention of students activist, Isah Mokwa, by Magistrate Murtala M. B. Ibrahim of Chief Magistrate Court 1, Minna.
The petition, addressed to the NJC Chairman at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja, accused the magistrate of abuse of discretion, judicial misconduct, and incompetence in handling the case.
Isah, a postgraduate student at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, was arraigned on 27 October 2025 on alleged cybercrime offences.
The court initially rejected the prosecution’s request for a 14‑day remand, correctly noting that the police cannot detain a citizen under the pretext of an investigation.
“These actions demonstrate contradictory reasoning, procedural irregularities, and a disregard for constitutional rights,” the petition stated.
“Such conduct reflects a lack of integrity, competence and sound judicial judgment, contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers (2016) and Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
Despite the court’s recognition of the lack of a legal basis for detention, Magistrate Ibrahim ordered Mokwa’s detention at Old Minna Prison, citing the absence of a formal bail application.
When a bail application was later filed, it was denied on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction, yet the case was neither dismissed nor transferred.
The petitioners called on the NJC to “investigate the conduct of Magistrate Murtala M. B. Ibrahim” and to “take appropriate disciplinary action to safeguard judicial integrity and public confidence.”
SaharaReporters had reported that Magistrate Ibrahim was among the names shortlisted by the NJC for promotion to High Court judge in Niger State, despite the controversy surrounding his handling of Isah’s case.
The list published by the NJC included “Murtala M. B. Ibrahim – High Court, Niger” alongside other nominees.
