The Kogi State Judicial Service Commission, JSC, has ordered the compulsory retirement of Alemeru Adekunle Bamidele, a judge in the Area Court system.
This was the resolution of the commission at its 136th meeting held on Monday, 5th May 2025.
The judge was found to have purchased a building—being the subject matter of litigation before him—after ordering its sale, and thereafter refused to make full payment for the property.
Similarly, Magistrate Tanimu U. Muhammed was suspended from performing adjudicatory duties as a magistrate for a period of two years, and is also to be issued a letter of warning.
He was found to have issued a court order without hearing the parties involved.
However, various allegations levelled against some other officers were found to be baseless, and the officers were exonerated by the Commission.
They include Magistrate Abdul Musa Mopah, Mr Yunusa Medugu, Deborah O. Ebiloma Esq., and Anuhi Safiya Oiza. The allegations against these officers were first investigated by the Commission’s Disciplinary Committee, which made appropriate recommendations to the JSC.
The secretary to the commission, Dr Tanko Muhammed, also hinted that a six-man committee was constituted by the commission to explore ways of improving the welfare of magistrates and Area Court judges.
The committee is headed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Muizudeen Abdullah, SAN.
