Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has set free three awaiting trial inmates who were under confinement of between four to six years without trial and whose case files have for long remained untraceable, with the prosecutors mostly absent during court sittings.
Expressing dismay on the non-appearance of the prosecutors at the review sitting of the Justice Administration Committee, the Chief Judge said that she couldn’t see any justification for the continued confinement of the accused when their case files are either untraceable or the prosecutors are absent in court.
The accused were alleged to have perpetrated capital offences of kidnapping, culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy, trespass and armed robbery but their prosecutors could not appear to provide information for the review of their case.
Justice Umar explained that the absence of prosecutors or late arrival to the quarterly review and exercise has been stalling proceedings as, according to her, without a prosecutor to advance evidence or give information on any particular case, such a case cannot be reviewed for either bail or setting free of the person (s) involved.
The Chief Judge noted with concern that during several past sittings of the committee, the accused’s case files could not be traced for review, saying leaving them in confinement for an 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 withheld) had told the committee that he was randomly arrested at a market while on a legitimate duty as a loader following a brigandage that arose from an annual wrestling jamboree in one of the local government headquarters of Bauchi State.
Justice 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 Justice, 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 trial inmates (ATM), and asked them to reform themselves and to be of exemplary behaviours as they are reintegrated into the larger society.
Also speaking 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 behaviours 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.
During the two-day visit ended on Friday, Justice Umar reviewed several cases of inmates awaiting trials and exercised judicial discretion in ordering the release of those deemed eligible.
