By Nimake Garland
The Chief Judge of Bauchi State, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has freed 11 inmates just as she warned Sharia court judges to desist from sentencing all manners of suspects to custody, especially those with minor offences.
The 11 inmates were freed from custodial centres across the state after she reviewed cases of awaiting trial inmates presented to her and released deserving ones.
Justice Umar who gave the warning during her third-quarter visit to custodial centres in the state said the warning became imperative because such sentencing brings about congestion in custodial centres.
A statement signed and made available to newsmen by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Bauchi State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, SC Adam Abubakar Jibrin, the Chief Judge admonished the released inmates to be law-abiding citizens and shun crime.
Bauchi chief judge commends Judges
Justice Umar also addressed inmates with terrorism-related charges who have been languishing in custody for a long time without trial, assuring them that the government and relevant agencies are doing everything possible to address their problems.
The CJ, who alongside members of the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee visited the custodial centres in Misau, Zaki, Gamawa, Azare, Jama’are, Ningi and Bauchi, then urged them to remain calm and exercise more patience.
In his welcoming address, the Controller of Corrections Bauchi State Command, CCS Kabir Abba Galadanci, commended the CJ and the state government for making the visit to custodial centres possible.
