The Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has been commended by the Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Umar Faruk 11 over her routine quarterly review cases visit to various custodians and Correctional Centres across the state over the weekend.
Alhaji Umar Farouk 11 made it clear that the routine cases review by the chief judge has not only sped up dispensation of justice, but also goes a long way in decongesting the custodian centres. He quoted the adage ‘justice delayed is justice denied’.
The emir also noted that the routine visits to the centres by Justice Rabi Talatu Umar has kept the various court judges and magistrates on their toes, instilling discipline in their minds while keeping attention to their day-to-day judicial responsibilities.
“Your ability to undertake such a routine quarterly cases review visits to the custodial centres, and your taking of decisive actions in the judiciary have changed many things for the better”, the emir told the chief judge.
Farouk 11 similarly commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his recent pardoning of 153 inmates awaiting trial persons from across various custodial centres in the state under the prerogative of mercy granted him by the constitution, and in commemoration of the country’s 62nd independence anniversary.
The Bauchi Chief Judge has earlier told the emir that she was on routine quarterly cases review of awaiting trial persons in various custodial centres across the state with a view to speed-up dispensation of justice, and by doing so reduce congestion in the centres.
Justice Rabi Umar explained that during the cases review visit, her team also supervises duties of sharia court judges and magistrates with a view to make corrections where necessary, and equally release inmates who were unnecessarily kept awaiting trial without concrete reasons.
She said her visit to the palace was to pay homage to the emir, having been in Azare for official duties, and to seek the prayers, blessings of the royal father, as well as advice from the emir in the conduct of her official duties.
Justice Rabi Talatu Umar had during the visits to the custodial centres warned the judges and magistrates to always be around during her visits to the custodies centres so as to shed more light on the cases being reviewed, so as to ease the review and ensure justice dispensation.
Also, during the visit to the custodial centres, the Chief Judge released 21 awaiting trial persons across the centres in the state; namely Ningi – 2 persons, Shira- 1 person, Jama’are – 2 persons, Azare- 2 persons, Nabordo – 3 persons, Remand Home Bauchi- 2, and Bauchi Correctional Centre – 9 persons.
The nine released in Bauchi are Salmanu Rabi’u, Musa Yusuf, Rabi’u Abdullahi, Usman Babayo, Usman Abdullahi, Ahmed Alhaji Yusuf, Babangida Isah, Ahmed Rashidu Sani, and Nasiru Ahmed.
Justice Rabi Umar counseled the released persons to seek for pardon from their parents, and equally look for lawful things to do to fend for a living. She said, ‘Any father whose son is incarnated in custodial centre is in jeopardy, and any child who jeopardizes his parents would receive punishment from God”.
