By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Administration of Justice Committee (BASAJC) led by the State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar has released six awaiting trial inmates from the Bauchi Custodial Centre and Ningi Correctional Centre in the state.
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 Bauchi Chief Judge placed five other awaiting trials on bail application, pending the presentation to her of their case diaries, following their ill-health, coupled with old age.
Three of the bailable awaiting trials who are languishing 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 charged the released inmates to henceforth avoid anything unlawful that would bring them back into the walls of correctional service, as she expressed worrisome over some vibrant youths who are supposed to fend for a living through skills job acquisition, but only to end up in cells out of greed and self-centredness.
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, where he or she would consume government’s food of tenths and hundreds of thousands of naira”, the CJ regretted.
Justice Rabi Umar has during the quarterly routine exercise also visited Darazo, Misau, Azare and Jama’are Correctional Centres on the committee which membership comprises officials of the Bauchi custodial centre, Court Inspectorate, Police, Sharia Khadis, State Counsels, and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
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