By RAMATU GARBA

The Kano State Ministry of Justice has dismissed State Counsel Mustapha Nura-Muhammad over alleged forgery, abuse of office, and gross professional misconduct.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Abubakar Tijjani-Ibrahim, in Kano.

The statement said the dismissal was approved by the Kano State Civil Service Commission on April 1, following recommendations by the Senior Staff Promotion and Disciplinary Committee.

“Investigations revealed that the counsel, employed in 2024, allegedly forged the names and signatures of senior legal officers to issue unauthorised and misleading legal advice in criminal cases pending before the courts.

“One case involving Commissioner of Police v. Umar Abubakar, pending before the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Gyadi-Gyadi, over alleged armed robbery.

“Findings show that the officer allegedly forged the name and signature of F.T. Ahmad to issue purported legal advice aimed at implicating an individual unconnected to the matter, leading to the person’s arrest and detention,” it stated.

It added that in another case, State v. Tukur Lawan and two others, involving alleged armed robbery and kidnapping, the counsel allegedly forged the name and signature of B.A. Ahmad, a Chief State Counsel, to unlawfully terminate the proceedings.

The statement said the suspect in that case, who had earlier been in detention, was later rearrested.

It noted that: “The ministry set up an internal disciplinary committee to investigate the matter and gave the officer a fair hearing in line with civil service procedures.

“The officer was queried and later suspended pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings.

“The matter was subsequently referred to the Senior Staff Promotion and Disciplinary Committee, which recommended his dismissal for serious misconduct under Section 4, Rule 04406 of the Kano State Civil Service Rules.

“The action aligns with the commitment of Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s administration to strengthen accountability, discipline, transparency, and professionalism in the public service and justice sector.”

Reacting to the development, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru-Maude, SAN, said the ministry would not tolerate acts that undermine the integrity of the justice system.

“Legal practitioners, especially those entrusted with public responsibility, must uphold the highest standards of ethics, honesty, and professionalism.

“This administration remains resolute in sanitising the justice sector and ensuring that anyone found wanting faces the full consequences of the law.

“The ministry has begun steps to refer the matter to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for professional sanctions and will also pursue criminal prosecution,” he said. (NAN)

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