By Usman Walin Gungura, Bauchi
Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar has expressed displeasure with the non-challant attitude of some judges and magistrates, particularly during her cases review exercise across the correctional centres in the state.
Justice Rabi Talatu Umar warned that she would henceforth take drastic action for any judge or magistrate who is absent during her committee’s cases review of long awaiting inmates at any of the designated correctional centre in the state.
The Administration of Justice Committee led by the State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar has, during its two-day 2026 first quarterly inmates cases review exercise which ended its proceeding, had a poor turnout of judges and magistrates at Misau, Azare and Jama’are correctional centres, rating less than 30 per cent attendance.
The presence of the judges and magistrates during the exercise graciously help in highlighting cases and giving additional information on the inmates thereby facilitating the smooth conduct of the exercise of justice dispensation
Justice Rabi Umar therefore, directed the representative of the State Grand Khadi on the Administration of Justice Committee which she heads, to compile list of absentee judges and magistrates during the exercise with a directive to be in her office Monday, 23rd February, 2026 for further action.
The Chief Judge has, during the exercise, released a number of 14 awaiting trial inmates, one at Jama’are and 13 at Bauchi Custodial Centre that have spent more than three, and some about five years awaiting trial.
Among the released persons included a sick, mentally retarded, as well as whose case files could not easily be traced during the review exercise.
Addressing the inmates at the Bauchi Custodial Centre shortly after their release, Magistrate Safiya Musa reminded them about the next judgment by the Creator in the hereafter.
Magistrate Safiya Musa stated, “You are lucky to have the Allah’s booty of your release in this Blessed Month of the Ramadan fast. No sooner have you rejoin your family, you have to spiritually consider that it’s an Act of God that made your release possible”.
She added, “It is not just you are absolve of any blame or unbecoming, but the Chief Judge finds it expedient to release you, for God is the best knower of everything. What’s in your minds are best known to Allah, so you should repent and seek God’s forgiveness”.
Also speaking, the state Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. A.G. Haruna (Esq) asked each and every released inmate to henceforth guard against their utterances, and seek God’s forgiveness for the sins they were perceived to have committed.
He explained that committing an offence or atrocity by any human being, either of two things could happen to such a person, which are to either be a source of pardon by Allah or getting God’s punishment for not seeking His forgiveness.
“Having a person to find himself in jail, even though he didn’t commit any offence, such inceration may attract God’s mercy for him to be rewarded with fame, as it happened to one of the Prophets of Allah”, Barrister Haruna said.
Thanking the committee members and in particular, the Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, an ex-inmate, on behalf of the released ones, Sani Sale said, “We are very grateful to God and the committee for its magnanimity to let us go free”.
