The Kwara State Judicial Service Commission has dismissed two court registrars and demoted a magistrate following investigations into allegations of corruption, negligence, abuse of office and the compromise of judicial processes.
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The disciplinary measures were approved at 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 an investigative committee found him negligent in supervising a culpable homicide case before his court.
According to the commission, the magistrate failed to properly supervise the perfection of the defendant’s bail conditions, allowing his court registrar to allegedly collect ₦200,000 from the defendant’s relatives and arrange proxy sureties to secure his release.
The defendant was subsequently released on bail but allegedly absconded, resulting in repeated adjournments before the criminal case was eventually terminated without due process.
The matter attracted renewed attention after the same defendant was later accused of committing another murder, prompting the Kwara State Commissioner of Police to petition the Judicial Service Commission.
Following the petition, the commission constituted an investigative committee, which found Magistrate Imam negligent in the discharge of his supervisory responsibilities.
In a related disciplinary action, the commission dismissed 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 its investigation established that Shuaib collected money from the defendant’s relatives to facilitate the bail process and shared part of the proceeds with some colleagues.
He was also found to have failed to conduct the mandatory verification of the sureties alongside the court orderly before the defendant was released.
According to the commission, the registrar’s actions compromised the integrity of the judicial process and breached the ethical and professional standards expected of judiciary employees.
The commission also dismissed Bisade Adebarade Philips, a registrar attached to Justice Oluwatosin Adeniyi, over allegations of extortion, abuse of office and other unethical conduct.
The investigation followed petitions submitted by litigants and legal practitioners accusing Philips of demanding and collecting unauthorised payments before performing official court duties.
The JSC said Philips collected ₦12,000 for the issuance of a divorce certificate on June 26, 2026, despite the officially prescribed fee being ₦2,700.
He was also accused of bypassing the statutory payment process through the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service and signing the certificate without the required authorisation.
Although Philips admitted some of the allegations before the investigative committee, the commission said documentary evidence and testimony from witnesses established a broader pattern of extortion.
The evidence reportedly showed that he repeatedly demanded money from litigants and lawyers before releasing court orders and certified copies of judgments.
The JSC said the sanctions were imposed in accordance with the Public Service Rules.
It warned that corruption, negligence, extortion, abuse of office and any conduct capable of compromising judicial proceedings would not be tolerated within the Kwara State judiciary.
The commission urged magistrates, registrars and other judicial workers to uphold integrity, transparency, accountability and professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Beyond the disciplinary measures, the commission approved the confirmation of Shola Ayenigba as the substantive Chief Accountant of the Kwara State judiciary after serving in an acting capacity.
It also approved the transfer of Magistrate Nimat Abdulrazaq from the Kwara State judiciary to the Federal Judicial Service Commission in Abuja.
The JSC further approved immediate cash-backing for promotions due in January 2025, July 2025 and January 2026.
The financial implementation of the promotions will take effect from July 2026.
The commission congratulated the affected officers and reiterated its commitment to maintaining discipline, accountability and public confidence in the administration of justice across the state.
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