Kwara JSC Dismisses Senior Court Officer, Demotes Two Others

The Kwara State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has terminated the employment of an officer at the State High Court, Bello Mopelola, and mandated her to reimburse the court a total of ₦1.461 million.

Naija News understands that the JSC also demoted two other senior court officials namely; Sambo Aliyu and Ramat Jaji, due to their alleged involvement in a physical altercation on court premises related to the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria election.

These disciplinary measures were announced in a statement released on Wednesday.

According to a press release from the Media and Information Unit of the Kwara State High Court of Justice, Mopelola was dismissed after being found guilty of absenteeism and unlawfully receiving dual salaries from both the state and the National Assembly.

The statement cited by The PUNCH read: “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.

“Additionally, Mrs Fareeda 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 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. However, the resignation was not approved.

“Meanwhile, as part of the disciplinary action, Mrs Bello Fareeda 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 JSC added, “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 Sambo allegedly attempted to crush Mr Lawal with his car within the High Court premises, a behaviour the Commission considered unruly and punishable under Civil Service Rules 04201.”

The JSC determined that Rahmat Jaji was guilty after conducting a comprehensive investigation into a physical confrontation with her colleague, Bamigboye Aderonke, that occurred on the court premises.

“The commission’s inquiry revealed that Rahmat had attacked Aderonke after taking offence to a comment made about Sambo Aliyu Rani.

“The commission viewed the behaviour 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 added.

However, while the commission considered the dismissal of both Rani and Jaji, it ultimately decided to impose a lesser penalty due to compassionate grounds.

The JSC added, “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.”

Kwara State High Court Media and Protocol officer, Jide Ogundele, confirmed the disciplinary action taken against some judicial officers, saying that “all what you saw in the statement is true.”