The Bauchi State Ministry of Justice recorded no fewer than 75 homicide cases, 28 kidnapping cases, and 86 rape cases during the 2024–2025 legal year.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Hassan Usman, disclosed this on Tuesday in Bauchi at the opening of the 2025–2026 legal year.
He said: “In criminal matters from January to date, we received a total of 91 robbery cases, compared to 83 last year, and 75 homicide cases.
“We were also served with motions for bail and other applications totalling 256, in addition to 86 rape cases and 28 kidnapping cases.
“In all, we handled 592 criminal cases, of which 97 have been concluded, 15 were discharged through legal advice, while 454 remain pending.”
Usman noted that, given the volume of cases, the Ministry had devised new strategies to expedite prosecutions in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, which emphasises timely trials, including strict timelines for filing charges and conducting hearings.
He disclosed that Governor Bala Mohammed approved N7.8 million for the purchase of law books and other professional materials for the Ministry’s library. The governor also approved monthly releases to settle all outstanding judgment debts owed by the state government.
Usman commended the governor for what he described as consistent support, commitment, and encouragement to the state’s justice sector.
Earlier, the Chief Judge of Bauchi State, Justice Rabi Umar, criticised the recurring practice of arraigning suspects without adequate preliminary investigations.
She noted that in many instances, evidence-gathering only began after a trial had already started.
She said: “This outdated approach to criminal prosecution causes significant delays and undermines the administration of justice.
“It is unacceptable that in 2025, we still witness such practices, which contribute to the growing backlog of cases and weaken public trust in the justice system.
“To address this and other concerns, a committee has been constituted to review the Bauchi State Administration of Criminal Justice Law and produce a draft that will stand the test of time.”
Justice Umar also stated that any lawyer who fails to comply with the approved dress code for legal practitioners in the state would not be allowed to appear in court, adding that disregard for standard attire diminishes the prestige and international reputation of the legal profession.
In his remarks, Governor Mohammed said the three arms of government in the state had continued to operate in harmony and mutual respect without compromising their constitutional roles.
Represented by his deputy, Alh. Auwal Jatau, he said his administration had consistently provided the legislative and judicial arms with the support needed to function effectively and without obstruction.