Bauchi Chief Judge frees 31 awaiting trial inmates

The Chief Judge of Bauchi State, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has freed no fewer than 31 awaiting trial inmates from correctional facilities across the state, even as she warned youths to always avoid crimes.

The lucky inmates regained their freedom on Tuesday when the CJ led the state Committee on Prerogative of Mercy on a routine quarterly visit to review their cases.

Justice Umar set 14 inmates free from the Bauchi correctional centre while two, five and 10 regained free from the Misau, Ningi and Tafawa Balewa custodial facilities respectively during the committee’s visit.

At the Katagum correctional facility, the CJ expressed worries over the large number of energetic youths, numbering over 100 languishing in the facility as a result of civil and criminal offences.

She admonished the youth in the state to avoid the get-rich-quick syndrome, which often led them to prison and called on parents and guardians to properly bring up their children and wards.

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According to Umar, children are leaders of tomorrow and as such they should be properly trained not only in schools but also in skills acquisition to be useful to themselves and the large society.

During the committee’s visit to Bauchi correctional facility in the state capital, Justice Umar lashed out at the police for the improper documentation of people brought to the facility.

The CJ, who was terribly worried after learning during the case review that the police lacked proper documentation of case files, charged police prosecutors to brace up to their duties.

While asserting that justice delayed is justice denied, Justice Umar urged the police to do more with a view to ensuring quick dispensation of justice and also challenged the state Ministry of Justice to always ensure prompt attention is given to case files sent to it for advice instead of delaying them.