By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
The committee on prerogative of mercy has freed 31 awaiting trial inmates from Bauchi Custodial Centre and other correctional services across the state.
The Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Umar, who led the committee on a routine quarterly visit to review cases, released the awaiting trial persons where she charged them to be of good and exemplary conduct when they rejoined the larger society.
At the Bauchi Custodial Centre, 14 inmates were set free, 10 from Tafawa Balewa while five and two were released from Ningi and Misau centers respectively.
At the Katagum Correctional Service in Zaki Local Government Area, the Chief Judge expressed worry over the 100 young and energetic youths languishing in jail having committed civil and criminal offenses.
She therefore charged youths in the state to desist from get-rich-quick syndrome which often trap them into jail, saying there is nothing to hurry in life.
Umar similarly tasked parents and guardians to lend credence to the proper upbringing of their children who, she described as leaders of tomorrow, saying they should involve them in skills acquisition and other profitable ventures to fend for a living.
The Chief Judge also expressed serious worry at the Bauchi Custodial Centre, having understood during case review that the police lacked proper documentation of case files, and where a case file is traced, it wasn’t updated.
She therefore asked prosecutors to brace up to their duties just as she also expressed concern at a situation where case files were delayed at the Ministry of Justice when sent seeking advice, stressing that “justice delayed is justice denied.”
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