Kwara JSC Takes Disciplinary Action Against Three Officers Over Misconduct
The Kwara State Judicial Service Commission has dismissed an officer of the State High Court, Mrs Fareeda Mopelola Bello and ordered her to return the sum of N1.461m, into the account of the state High Court.
The JSC also ordered the demotion of two other senior officers of the state High Court, Mr Sambo Aliyu and Mrs Ramat Jaji for allegedly engaging in fighting at the premises of the Court over the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria election.
The disciplinary action were handed down on the three High Court staff in a statement on Wednesday.
JSC in a press statement by Media and Information Unit, Kwara State High Court of Justice obtained by our correspondent, said that Mrs Bello has been dismissed from the service of the state Judiciary having been found guilty of absenteeism and receiving double salary from both the state and the National Assembly.
According to the statement, “Mrs. Bello was found guilty of engaging in serious misconduct, including taking up an appointment as a Senior Legislative Aide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives while still employed by the Kwara State Judiciary, which resulted in the staff member drawing double salaries from both state and federal establishments.
“Additionally, Mrs Bello was also found to have absconded from her duty post at Hon.Justice F.D. Lawal’s Court without leave, in contravention of Regulation 42(1) of the Judicial Service Commission Regulation 1980.
“The Commission also discovered that Mrs. Bello had submitted a letter of resignation on November 7, 2024, while disciplinary action for engaging in fighting while on duty and absconding from duty was still pending. However, the resignation was not approved.
“Meanwhile, as part of the disciplinary action, Mrs. Bello has also been ordered to pay a sum of N1,461,900.40 (One Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty Kobo) representing the total salaries and emoluments illegally drawn from the Kwara State Judiciary between June 13, 2023, and September 30, 2024, into the High Court of Justice account”, the statement said.
The JSC also demoted two senior Staff of the state High Court, Mr Sambo Aliyu Rani and Mrs Rahmat Jaji over alleged fighting at the Court premises.
Rani and Jaji who were both Grade Level 12 officers were alleged to have engaged each other in physical altercation and gross misconduct in contravention of violations of civil service procedures and rules.
According to the JSC, “Mr. Sambo Aliyu Rani was involved in a quarrel with a colleague, Mr. Lawal Oredola Rafiu, over the JUSUN election, in which Sambo’s brother was contesting for the Chairmanship position.
“The altercation escalated to the point where Mr. Aliyu allegedly attempted to crush Mr. Lawal with his car within the High Court premises, a behavior the Commission considered unruly and punishable under Civil Service Rules 04201.”
However, the JSC found Mrs. Rahmat Jaji guilty following a thorough investigation into a physical altercation with her colleague, Aderonke Bamigboye, within the court premises.
“The commission’s inquiry revealed that Rahmat had attacked Aderonke after taking offense to a comment made about Sambo Aliyu Rani.
“The commission viewed the behavior as a serious breach of discipline, particularly given Mrs. Rahmat Jaji’s senior position, which requires her to maintain a high level of professionalism and set a good example for junior staff”, the statement further said.
But while the commission considered the dismissal of both Mr. Sambo Aliyu Rani and Mrs. Rahmat Jaji, it ultimately decided to impose a lesser penalty due to compassionate grounds.
According to JSC , “the demotions of the two officers are in line with the Judicial Service Commission Regulation 43(d) and serve as a disciplinary measure for the staff members’ gross misconduct.
“Mr. Sambo Aliyu Rani and Mrs. Rahmat Jaji were both demoted from Principal Administrative Officers I GL. 12 to Principal Administrative Officers II GL.10, effective from January 1, 2025”, the statement added.
Kwara State High Court Media and Protocol officer, Mr Jide Ogundele confirmed the disciplinary action taken against some judicial officers saying that “all what you saw in the statement is true.”
