Published Feb. 21, 2025
By Bashir Hassan
Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of witchcraft-related accusations in the justice system, calling it a troubling development.
She pointed out the challenge of proving such cases, emphasizing that witchcraft allegations can rarely be substantiated unless the accused person confesses.
Justice Umar made these remarks during her two-day review of awaiting trial cases at the Jama’are Maximum Correctional Centre in Bauchi State, as part of her responsibilities as the Chairperson of the Committee on the Administration of Justice.
She also cautioned judges and magistrates against imposing excessively high compensation fees on convicts, particularly in cases where a fine is an alternative to imprisonment.
Justice Umar criticized the practice of setting fines as high as N100,000 to N300,000, warning that such hefty amounts could push convicts to reoffend in order to meet the financial demands.
“Imposing such heavy compensation is unreasonable and may drive convicts to resort to crime to settle the fines. Judges must ensure that fines are proportional to the convict’s circumstances and that justice is tempered with mercy,” she said.
During the exercise, the Chief Judge ordered the release of 18 awaiting trial inmates. Seven were granted bail from Jama’are Maximum Correctional Centre, while seven were released from Bauchi Custodial Centre. Three and one inmate were freed from Ningi and Misau Correctional Centres, respectively.
Justice Umar noted that many of the released inmates had been held for extended periods without being formally charged. Some had spent over five years in custody, far surpassing any potential prison sentence they might face.
She stressed that the long duration of their detention served as a lesson for them to adopt better behavior and skills for self-reliance upon their release.
The inmates freed had been in custody for periods ranging from three years and eight months to over five years, with ages ranging from 60 to 75 years.
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