The Chief Judge of Bauchi State, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has expressed concern over the growing number of witchcraft-related cases in the state, calling it a challenging issue in legal practice. She made this statement while reviewing the cases of awaiting trial inmates at the Jama’are Maximum Correctional Centre during a two-day routine visit by the Administration of Justice Committee, which she chairs.
Justice Rabi noted, “If you are not a witch, you cannot identify one. It is a difficult issue to prove unless the accused confesses.”
The Administration of Justice Committee, which includes important legal and security figures, such as the State Controller of Custodial Centres, the State Grand Khadi, the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Public Prosecution, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association in Bauchi, also participated in the visit.
Additionally, Justice Rabi warned judges and magistrates against imposing excessively high compensation on convicts, particularly when fines could be an alternative. She highlighted that high compensation fees often prolong the convicts’ stay in correctional facilities, emphasizing the need for fairness.
She cautioned, “Any judge who imposes unreasonable compensation will be held accountable for it themselves.”
