Bauchi Chief Judge Warns Judicial Officers Against Entertaining Witchcraft Cases

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

Speaking during a two-day review of awaiting trial cases at the Jama’are Maximum Correctional Centre, Justice Umar emphasised that allegations of witchcraft should not be taken seriously in court unless the accused confesses.

“If you are not a witch, you cannot know who is a witch. It is an issue that could hardly be established unless the witch confesses to being one,” she stated.

She warned that admitting such cases into the judicial system could undermine the integrity of the courts and lead to wrongful convictions. She urged judicial officers to focus on cases with clear evidence rather than accusations based on superstition.

Justice Umar also criticised the imposition of excessive fines on convicts, particularly in cases where fines serve as alternatives to imprisonment. She argued that requiring convicts to pay heavy fines ranging from N100,000 to N300,000 could push them into reoffending out of desperation.

“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.

She expressed concern over the prolonged detention of many inmates without formal charges and advised those released to adopt better behaviour and self-reliance skills as they reintegrate into society.