Chief Magistrate Salihu-Kokani of court III, Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi State is under probe for slapping a lawyer, Abdullahi Bawa Dan Bauchi and two other persons.
Salihu-Kokani allegedly slapped the lawyer who is a state counsel and two other persons the premises of Chief Magistrate Court I, Birnin Kebbi, where he was assigned to take over a case against some staff of the Ministry of High Education.
Chief Registrar, Kebbi High Court, Hussaini Abdullahi-Zuru said in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Friday said Salihu-Kokami has been moved to Headquarters pending the outcome of the report of an Administrative Committee set up to investigate the matter.
The administrative panel to investigate will also investigate allegations of alleged misconduct against Chief Magistrate, Mustapha Umar-Maccido who allegedly absconded from duty.
“Chief Magistrate Mustapha Umar-Maccido was reasonably suspected to have absconded from his duty post, Chief Magistrates Court, Kalgo, since Sept. 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 was recalled to the headquarters for judicial misconduct.
His statement partly reads: “There was an allegation of gross and judicial misconduct against him by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, that on Sept. 12,
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.”
(NAN)
