2025 was landmark era for Kano State Judiciary under Justice Dije Aboki – Chief Registrar
The year 2025 has emerged as a landmark era for the Kano State Judiciary, defined by a comprehensive “renaissance” led by the state’s first female Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Dije Abdu Aboki.
The Chief Registrar (CR) of Kano State High Court, Hussein Hassan Suleiman, revealed this in a news release on Monday.
He said following a period of institutional challenges, Justice Aboki has spearheaded a bold mission to restore the dignity and efficiency of the legal system.
Institutional re-engineering
According to him, her administration’s focus on “institutional re-engineering” has successfully touched every pillar of judicial administration, ranging from infrastructure and fiscal discipline to staff welfare and the integration of progressive justice delivery mechanisms.
He explained that a central highlight of Justice Aboki’s transformation is the aggressive restoration of judicial infrastructure.
The CR added that after years of decay and the aftermath of the August 2024 ‘End Bad Governance’ protest-related vandalism, the Judiciary undertook the full rehabilitation of the High Court and the Ceremonial Court at the Audu Bako Secretariat. The later has been upgraded to international standards, now boasting state-of-the-art acoustics and security.
Furthermore, a state-wide renovation program saw the fortification of Magistrate Courts in locations such as Mariri, Gezawa, and Nomansland, while new court complexes are rising in Zungero and Unguwa Uku to bring justice closer to the grassroots.
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Beyond bricks and mortar, the administration has prioritized the “human element” of justice. In an unprecedented move, Justice Aboki implemented significant welfare reforms, including salary increments for casual staff and regular fuel allowances for Magistrates. To ensure professional excellence, promotions are now strictly merit-based, following rigorous examinations. The Judiciary also invested heavily in capacity building, partnering with African London House for global online training for Magistrates and sponsoring legal staff for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference, ensuring Kano’s judicial officers remain competitive on a global scale, Mr. Suleiman said.
Modernisation drive
In a drive toward modernisation and transparency, the CR highlighted that the Kano State Judiciary has embraced digital tools and structural reforms.
He said all Magistrate Court Registries were equipped with laptop computers to enhance case tracking and record management, marking a shift toward a paperless future. Strategically, new departments for Training and Procurement were established to institutionalize professional development and enforce fiscal accountability. These internal controls have been bolstered by the Judicial Public Complaints Committee (JPCC), which handled over 200 complaints in 2025, significantly reducing corruption and rebuilding public trust.
Probate registry and revenue integrity
The administration’s commitment to efficiency is perhaps most visible in the record-breaking performance of the Probate Registry. In a historic financial milestone, the registry shattered its annual target of ₦15 million, generating over ₦162.8 million in probate fees and contributing to a total High Court revenue exceeding ₦400 million by late December 2025. This 2,000% increase over previous benchmarks was attributed to the elimination of informal leakages, the standardization of processes, and ethical enforcement of probate laws, setting a new national standard for judicial revenue integrity.
As the 2025 judicial year concludes, the landscape of justice in Kano State stands fundamentally altered. Through the introduction of the Small Claims Court Practice Direction and the revitalization of the Multi-Door Courthouse for alternative dispute resolution, the “Temple of Justice” has become more accessible than ever.
“Under Justice Dije Abdu Aboki’s visionary leadership, the Kano State Judiciary has not only restored its lost glory but has firmly established itself as a model of integrity and efficiency for the rest of the federation,” the CR said when asked to sum up Chief Judge’s performance.
