Gross Misconduct, Physical Altercations: Kwara JSC Dismisses High Court Officer, Demotes Two Others
Kwara State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in Nigeria says it has taken disciplinary action against three High Court staff, including the dismissal of a Grade Level 10 officer and demotions of two Grade Level 12 officers for physical altercations and gross misconduct.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Wednesday by the Media and Information Unit of the Commission.
The statement clarifies that the action follows thorough investigations into violations of civil service procedures and rules.
It explains that 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, while Mrs. Bello Fareeda Mopelola was dismissed from service with immediate effect.
The Judicial Service Commission explains that Mr. 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.
It further explains further that the altercation escalated to the point where Mr. Sambo allegedly attempted to crush Mr. Lawal with his car within the High Court premises, a behavior the Commission says was considered unruly and punishable under Civil Service Rules 04201.
“Equally, the JSC found Mrs. Rahmat Jaji guilty following a thorough investigation into a physical altercation with her colleague, Bamigboye Aderonke, 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 commission says it considered the dismissal of both Mr. Sambo Aliyu Rani and Mrs. Rahmat Jaji, they ultimately decided to impose a lesser penalty due to compassionate grounds.
“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”
The statement says the dismissed officer, Mrs. Bello Fareeda Mopelola 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.
It adds that, Mrs. Fareeda was also found to have absconded from her duty post at Justice F.D. Lawal’s Court without leave, which it says contravenes the Regulation 42(1) of the Judicial Service Commission Regulation 1980.
The Commission says it also discovered that Mrs. Bello Fareeda 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, which implies that the resignation was not approved.
The statement however says that as part of the disciplinary action, Mrs. Bello Fareeda has also been ordered to pay a sum of 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.
