CJN orders probe of Sokoto Sharia court judge

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen has directed the Chief Judge of Sokoto State, Justice Bello Abbas to commence necessary action against a Sharia Court judge in the state.

The CJN in a letter by the Secretary to the National Judicial Council (NJC), Danladi Halilu forwarded two petitions dated April 3rd, 2017 by one Malam Hassan Ahmed Danbaba and his counsel, Yusuf Dankofa against a lower court judge in the state.

The letter said the petitions “against the lower court judge” were forwarded to the Sokoto CJ “for necessary action of the Sokoto State Judicial Service Commission.”

Danbaba, a senior councillor in the Sultanate Council of Sokoto, petitioned the CJN to wade into an alleged perversion of justice by Justice Umar Sifawa, a judge of the state Sharia court.

Justice Sifawa in March this year issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Danbaba. The order was given in a ruling on a motion filed by the National Vice Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), North-West, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir accusing Danbaba of defamation of character.

A leaked letter allegedly wrote by Danbaba and addressed to the state governor, Aminu Tambuwal on December 31, 2016 had allegedly described Abdulkadir’s late father as a slave bought by one Gwaggo, for two shillings, and that his mother died as a cook in primary school.

However, in the petition addressed to the CJN, dated March 24, Danbaba contended that Justice Sifawa had made a mockery of the entire Shariah court system in Sokoto state in a matter between him and Abdulkadir.

Danbaba who is the Magajin Garin Sokoto demanded the immediate probe and dismissal of Justice Sifawa from service for alleged violation of his oath of office by acting in a bias and prejudicial manner.