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By Usman Shehu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has expressed dismay over absence of prosecutors during her recent committee’s routine quarterly review of cases of awaiting trials inmates at the various correctional centres across the state.
The Chief Judge explained that the absence of prosecutors or late arrival to the quarterly review and exercise has been stalling proceedings, Saying “without a prosecutor to advance evidence or give information on any particular case, such a case cannot be reviewed for either ball or set free of the person (s) involved”.
Justice Rabi at the Bauchi custodial centre, set free three accused persons for alleged culpable homicide, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, trespass and armed robbery, who have spent six years, and four years each respectively without trials and not attending court of law.
The Chief Judge noted with serious concern that at several past sittings of the committee, the accused case files could not be traced for review, saying leaving them in confinement for unforeseeable period of time could be against their fundamental rights to freedom, hence the committee’s resolve to set them free.
One of the accused (name withhold) had told the committee that he was randomly arrested at a market doing a legitimate duty as a loader following an upholding brigandage that arose from an annual wrestling jamboree in one of the Local Government Area headquarters of Bauchi state.
Justice Rabi Umar, therefore urged prosecutors to exhibit greater diligence in their day-to-day duties, especially in quick conclusion of investigations and presenting prompt evidence to the appropriate channels to avoid unnecessary delays in court proceedings, and advised the freeing inmate to be law-abiding, and advise the released inmates to engage in legal activities that could benefit themselves, their families and the society at large.
The Chief Judge, who chairs the Administration of Justice Committee, and whose review exercise took her to Darazo, Misau, Azare, Jama’are and Ningi correctional centres, had at Ningi granted bail to two awaiting trials inmates (ATM), and asked those in confinement to reform themselves and to be of examplary behaviours when back into the larger society after serving their jail terms.
In his remarks during the exercise, the Bauchi State Controller of Correctional Centres, CCS Isa Nuru Mohammed, expressed gratitude to the Chief Judge for her commitment and for taking the time to personally inspect the custodial centres.
CCS Isa Mohammed also acknowledged the vital role being played by the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) in supporting the decongestion efforts and encouraged the released inmates to demonstrate good behavior as they reintegrate into society.
The exercise is part of the ongoing efforts to decongest the correctional facilities across the state, and promote timely administration of justice.
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