By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
The Judiciary in Bauchi has seriously warned Chief Magistrates and Shari’a Court judges to refrain from unnecessary reprimand of debtors in correctional centres in the bid to recover the debts, saying such action is retrogressive and not a solution to the problem.
The State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatin Umar who sounded the warning Tuesday, said that such disputes in debts and marriages can be resolved through mediation and exploring avenues for amicable settlement.
Justice Rabi Talatu Umar during cases review of awaiting trial inmates (ATM) under the Administration of Justice Committee which she is heading further warned the judges and magistrates not to allow their courts be stepping stones for litigants to intimidate debtors.
She frowned, “Don’t use your good offices to abuse the powers given to you. Are you suppose to keep a person, especially a female in correctional centre for just 30k. You caused for a reprimand of your debtor and at the same time you want your debt be recovered. what magic do you want your debtor to do, who is under detention in a correctional centre”.
“If you cause for the reprimand of a debtor, you are responsible for feeding him/her while in the correctional centre no matter how long he/she stay because government cannot should that responsibility at your instance, so I’m reminding correctional centre officials about this responsibility”, the Chief Judge said.
Justice also during this routine quarterly ATMs review exercise of the committee, released eight (8) inmates and granted bail to two (2) from across five correctional centres of Darazo, Misau, Azare, Jama’are and Ningi with 4, 3, and one discharged from Misau, Azare and Ningi respectively, and one each bailed from Misau and Azare.
On cases of witchcraft, the chief judge explained that the courts don’t determine who is a witchcraft, adding “It is also neive, irreligious, and culturally immoral for an alleged witchcraft to be forced naked to cross over suspected victim as antidote for the witches”
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