Bauchi CJ Frees Six awaiting trial inmates, expresses Concern over presence of vibrant Youths in Cells
By Abbas Usman, Bauchi
In continuation of her desire to enhance Justice Administration in the state, the Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Umar has Freed Six awaiting trial inmates from Ningi and Bauchí Correctional Centres.
Justice Rabi Umar
The Administration of Justice Committee led by Justice Rabi Talatu Umar during her committee’s quarterly visit to correctional centres to review cases of the inmates, released four and two awaiting trial inmates at the Bauchi custodial centre and Ningi correctional Centre respectively.
The Chief Judge placed five other awaiting trials on bail application, pending the presentation of their case diaries, following their ill-health, coupled with old age.
Three of the bailable awaiting trials who are abandoned in the cells from three and a half years and above were never prosecuted before a Court of Law, as their ages ranges between 67, 68 and 71 years.
Justice Rabi Talatu Umar warned the released inmates to avoid anything unlawful that would bring them back into the walls of correctional service, expressing serious concerns over the presence of some vibrant youths who are supposed to look for a better living through skills job acquisition, but to ended up in cells out of greed and self- centeredness.
She also frowned at the attitudes of some sharia Court judges and Magistrates who in their adjudication instead of striking a balance between a creditor and debtor on some valuables, ruled to keep the debtor in cells where he or she doesn’t have any means.
“Why keep the debtor in cells over an amount of only N30, 000, or N50,000 where he or she would consume government’s food of tens and hundreds of thousands of naira”, the CJ queried
Justice Rabi Umar and her team which comprises officials of Bauchi Custodial Centre, Police, Court Inspectorate, Sharia Khadis, State Councils and Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Bauchi, including judicial reporters, had during the quarterly routine exercise, visited Darazo, Misau, Azare and Jama’are Correctional Centres
