Chioma Okoli’s Case: Nasarawa Judicial Commission Demotes Chief Magistrate For Misconduct, Abuse Of Power
The Nasarawa State Judicial Commission has demoted Emmanuel Jatau, a Chief Magistrate, following his handling of a controversial case involving Chioma Okoli and the Nigeria Police Force.
In a letter dated January 6, 2025, and signed by Yahaya Shafa, the commission’s secretary, it was revealed that Jatau was demoted from Chief Magistrate II (Grade Level 15) to Senior Magistrate I (Grade Level 14) and stripped of his magisterial duties.
“Consequently, I have been directed by the Hon. Chief Judge of Nasarawa State and Chairman Judicial Service Commission to write and inform you that Hon. Emmanuel A. Jatau has been demoted by a grade level lower than his current grade level i.e from Chief Magistrate II on GL 15 to Senior Magistrate I on GL 14 and stripped of his magisterial duties,” the commission said.
The disciplinary action was prompted by a petition from Nigerian human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, submitted in August 2024 to the Honourable Chief Judge of Nasarawa State.”
Effiong accused Jatau of judicial misconduct, forgery, illegality, and abuse of power.
According to Inibehe, the police did not attempt to secure a valid warrant of arrest or a warrant of commitment to prison on remand from any court in Lagos, where the defendant resides, or in Abuja, where the case was reported.
He said instead, they allegedly conspired with certain unscrupulous elements within the Nasarawa State Judiciary to fabricate documents falsely labelled as a warrant of arrest and a warrant of commitment to prison on remand.
The case involved Jatau’s issuance of a Warrant of Arrest and Warrant of Commitment to Prison for one Okoli Udoka Chioma from Lagos to Nasarawa State.
Effiong argued that the alleged offences were not committed within Nasarawa State.
