AISHA ABUBAKAR
The Chief Magistrate of a Court, Salihu-Kokani, has set aside professional discipline as he brutally gave a State Counsel, Barrister Abdullahi Bawa Dan Bauchi and two other persons dirty slaps in the premises of Court over an undisclosed matter.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the premises of the Magistrate Court I, Birnin Kebbi, where Barrister Bauchi was assigned to take over a case against some staff of the Ministry of High Education.
Following the ugly incident, the Kebbi State High Court has set up an Administrative Panel to investigate allegations of alleged misconduct against the Magistrate, Salihu-Kokani and another Chief Magistrate, Umar-Maccido.
This was contained in a statement by the Chief Registrar, Kebbi High Court, Hussaini Abdullahi-Zuru, which he issued in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.
Abdullahi-Zuru stated: “There was an allegation of gross and judicial misconduct against Magistrate Salihu-Kokani by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, that on 12th September, 2022, that he slapped a State Counsel, Barrister Abdullahi Bawa Dan Bauchi and two other persons inside the Court premises”.
“The act took place at the premises of Chief Magistrate Court I, Birnin Kebbi, which he was assigned to take over a case against some staff of the Ministry of High Education.”
It stated that Umar-Maccido would proceed on suspension while Salihu-Kokami has been moved to Headquarters for investigation over the conduct.
“Chief Magistrate Mustapha Umar-Maccido was reasonably suspected to have absconded from his duty post, Chief Magistrates Court, Kalgo, since September 2022, after the expiration of his two weeks casual leave.“
“He was alleged to have been in private practice in other jurisdictions even though he is a serving Chief Magistrate.
Accordingly, he is hereby suspended pending the report of an Administrative Committee set up to investigate the matter.”
Abdullahi-Zuru added that Salihu-Kokani of Chief Magistrates’ Court III, Birnin Kebbi was recalled to the headquarters for judicial misconduct.
He said: “There was an allegation of gross and judicial misconduct against him by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, that on 12th September 2022, he slapped a State Counsel, Abdullahi Bawa Dan Bauchi and two other persons.”
“The act took place at the premises of Chief Magistrate Court I, Birnin Kebbi, which he was assigned to take over a case against some staff of the Ministry of High Education.”
“Accordingly, the office of the Chief Registrar hereby directs his recall to the headquarters, pending the outcome of the report of an Administrative Committee set up to investigate the matter.”