The acting director of information and statistics for the Kano Shari’a Court of Appeal, Muzambilu Ado, has sued the Judicial Service Commission, challenging his compulsory retirement for alleged irregularities in his academic record.

The suit, filed before the National Industrial Court, also named Governor Abba Yusuf and the commissioner for justice as respondents.

Mr Ado is also seeking N100 million in damages, alleging that the JSC’s directive to proceed on compulsory retirement tarnished his reputation and damaged the professional career he built over the years.

The JSC, in a statement on July 6, announced Mr Ado’s compulsory retirement with immediate effect.

The commission said the decision followed findings by its establishment committee, which allegedly uncovered serious irregularities in Mr Ado’s academic credentials, including alteration of academic records and admission into the Nigerian Law School without the commission’s approval.

Mr Ado, in his statement of claim, denied all allegations of academic irregularities and alterations in his academic records.

He maintained that he was employed by the Kano State Judiciary in 2006, held a diploma in Public Administration from Kaduna Polytechnic, and never presented a Higher National Diploma certificate during his employment or subsequent verification exercises.

According to him, the commission’s allegation that he forged an HND certificate with altered grades was unfounded.

On his legal education, Mr Ado stated that he enrolled at Imperial University College, Sudan, where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 2022. He further claimed that the institution confirmed to the JSC that he was duly admitted into its LLB programme and successfully completed all prescribed courses.

According to him, the university also explained that he initially studied Shari’a and Civil Law at Alnahda International University before transferring to Imperial University College after Alnahda allegedly failed to forward his name for the Nigerian Law School’s Bar Part I programme because it lacked the required accreditation.

Mr Ado also denied the JSC’s claim that its investigation was based on a petition by a complainant, Sani Manzo, describing the name as fictitious. He further argued that he was neither served with the petition against him nor issued a formal query before disciplinary action was taken, contrary to civil service rules.

Upon his admission to the Nigerian Law School, Mr Ado stated that although five judicial staffers had applied, the commission failed to communicate its decision on his application.

He said he neither received approval nor a rejection before proceeding with his studies, adding that he was later accused of gaining admission without official authorisation.

The claimant also asked the court to set aside the Nigerian Law School’s decision to expel him, arguing that the institution’s inability to verify his academic records through Imperial University College’s official email address should not be held against him.

He contended that the law school ought to have explored other means of verifying his credentials instead of relying solely on email correspondence.

Mr Ado urged the court to declare the JSC’s directive for his compulsory retirement null and void on the grounds that it was unlawful.

(NAN)