Bauchi Chief Judge warns judiciary against entertaining witchcraft cases

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The Chief Judge of Bauchi State, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has cautioned judicial officers against entertaining witchcraft-related cases, describing them as difficult to prove and often lacking concrete evidence.

She warned that such accusations, without substantial proof, could undermine the credibility of the justice system and lead to wrongful prosecutions.

According to her, such cases pose a serious challenge to the administration of justice, as convictions are largely dependent on confessions rather than tangible proof.

Justice Umar, who spoke during a two-day review of awaiting trial cases at the Jama’are Maximum Correctional Centre, stated that witchcraft allegations cannot be substantiated unless the accused confesses.

The Chief Judge also criticized the imposition of excessive fines on convicts, particularly in cases where a fine serves as an alternative to imprisonment.

She condemned the practice of imposing fines ranging from N100,000 to N300,000, stating that such hefty penalties could push convicts into reoffending in a desperate attempt to pay.

“Imposing such heavy compensation is unreasonable and may drive convicts back into crime. Judges must ensure that fines are proportional to the convict’s circumstances and that justice is tempered with mercy,” she said.

As part of her justice review exercise, Justice Umar ordered the release of 18 awaiting trial inmates, some of whom had been in detention for over five years without trial—a period exceeding the sentences they would have served if convicted.

The breakdown of the released inmates includes: seven granted bail from Jama’are Maximum Correctional Centre, seven released from Bauchi Custodial Centre, three freed from Ningi Correctional Centre, and one released from Misau Correctional Centre.

Justice Umar expressed concern that some of the inmates had been detained for years without formal charges, noting that their long stay in prison should serve as a lesson for them to adopt better behavior and self-reliance skills upon release.

She reiterated her commitment to ensuring fair and speedy justice delivery, urging judicial officers to prioritize human rights and due process in handling cases.