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 compromising judicial procedures.
Drivetvnews gathered that the disciplinary actions 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 handling a culpable homicide case.
According to the JSC, the magistrate failed to properly supervise the bail process, allowing his court registrar to allegedly collect ₦200,000 from the defendant’s relatives and arrange proxy sureties to secure the suspect’s release.
The defendant was subsequently granted bail but absconded, causing repeated court adjournments before the case was eventually terminated. The matter came under investigation after the same suspect was later accused of committing another murder, prompting a petition from the Kwara State Commissioner of Police.
An investigative panel set up by the Commission found Magistrate Imam negligent in carrying out his supervisory responsibilities.
In a related development, the Commission dismissed Mr. Saadullahi Shuaib, a Grade Level 10 court registrar formerly attached to Magistrate Imam, for gross misconduct.
Investigators found that Shuaib collected money from the defendant’s relatives to facilitate the bail process, shared part of the proceeds with colleagues, and failed to verify the sureties as required before the suspect was released.
The JSC said his actions compromised the judicial process and violated the ethical standards expected of court officials.
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 practices.
According to the Commission, Philips demanded and received ₦12,000 instead of the official ₦2,700 fee for issuing a divorce certificate on June 26, 2026. He was also accused of bypassing the approved payment process through the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) and signing the certificate without the required authorisation.
Although Philips admitted some of the allegations during the investigation, the Commission said evidence from witnesses and documents revealed a pattern of extortion involving litigants and lawyers seeking court orders and certified judgments.
The JSC stressed that corruption, negligence, abuse of office, and any compromise of judicial processes would not be tolerated within the state’s judiciary.
The Commission also approved several administrative decisions, including confirming Mr. Shola Ayenigba as the substantive Chief Accountant after serving in an acting capacity and approving the transfer of Magistrate Nimat Abdulrazaq from the Kwara State Judiciary to the Federal Judicial Service Commission in Abuja.
It further approved immediate financial implementation of promotions due in January 2025, July 2025, and January 2026, with effect from July 2026.
The Commission congratulated the affected officers and urged all judicial personnel to uphold integrity, accountability, transparency, and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
