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Bauchi CJ Grants 11 Inmates Freedom, Cautions Sharia Judges On Sentencing Suspects For Minor Offences
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Bauchi State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Rabi T.Umar, in her third quarter visit to Custodial Centres in the State, released a total number of eleven inmates(11) from Custodial Centres in Bauchi State Command.
A press statement signed and issued Wednesday evening by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Bauchi State Command, SC Adam Abubakar Jibrin, said during the jail delivery exercise, the Chief judge, alongside members of the Administration of Criminal Justice committee, comprising of the Nigerian Police, the Director, Public Prosecution (DPP) from Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Bar Association, Bauchi Chapter and the Controller of Corrections, toured Misau, Zaki, Gamawa and Azare Custodial Centres respectively.
Others centres visited include Jama’are, Ningi and Bauchi Custodial Centres, where the CJ reviewed cases of awaiting trial inmates presented to her and released deserving ones.
While addressing the released inmates, the Chief Judge admonished them to be law abiding citizens and shun crime.
The Chief judge also took time to address inmates with terrorism-related charges who have been languishing in custody for a long time without trial.
She assured them that government and relevant agencies are doing everything possible to address their problems, urging them to remain calm and exercise more patience.
Also addressing Sharia Court judges, the Chief Judge urged them to refrain from sentencing all manner of suspects into custody especially those with minor offences because, according to her, that brings about congestion in Custodial Centres.
In his remarks, Controller of Corrections Bauchi State Command, CCS Kabir Abba Galadanci Commended the Chief Judge and the State government for making the visit to Custodial Centres possible.
He said the visit will go a long way in decongesting the Centres and further give hope to the inmates.