Mustapha Gambo Muhammad
A storm of controversy is brewing at the Upper Shari’a Court in Goron Dutse, Kano, as nine heirs of a deceased father raise alarm over the mysterious disappearance of N35 million the proceeds from a court-ordered sale of inherited property.
Abba Inuwa, one of the heirs, revealed that after the family’s only remaining shop was sold on the directive of the presiding judge, the funds were transferred into a personal account allegedly belonging to the court’s finance registrar, Sadiq Mahmoud Sadiq, rather than an official judiciary account.
“We are in dire need. We’ve waited patiently for the court to distribute the money, but nothing has happened. The registrar avoids us, and the judge keeps saying the money is with him,” said Inuwa.
The heirs, who followed due process under Islamic inheritance law, say they are now victims of judicial misconduct and financial opacity, calling on Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Aboki, and the Grand Khadi, to come to their aid
“We have evidence that the money was not deposited in an official account. We demand transparency. We demand justice,” Inuwa added.
The family further called on anti-corruption agencies, civil society organizations, and the media to intervene and hold the judiciary accountable on the missing money
Responding to the allegations, surrounding the disappearance of N35 million inheritance funds in Upper Shari’a Court Goron Dutse, Muzammil Ado Fagge, Director of Information and Statistics at the Kano Shari’a Court of Appeal, issued a cautious but firm statement promising to investigate the matter.
“I don’t know anything about these allegations, but I will find out more and get back to you,” Fagge stated.
Fagge noted that such actions if true would constitute a serious breach of judicial protocol.
He cited reforms introduced by the current Grand Khadi, Tijjani Yusuf Yakasai, who mandated that no heir’s funds should be deposited into any personal account of a judicial officer or registrar.
“In the Shari’a Court of Appeal, Kano, no registrar or judge has access to a single kobo of heirs’ money due to the E-payment policy introduced by the Grand Khadi,” Fagge explained.
He reaffirmed that any deviation from this policy would be a grave violation and assured the public that the true position of the allegations will be uncovered.
