The Chief Judge of Bauchi State, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has warned Sharia court judges to refrain from sentencing all manner of suspects to custody, especially those with minor offences.

This is even as she freed 11 inmates from custodial centres across the state after she reviewed cases of awaiting trial inmates presented to her.

The Chief Judge gave the warning during her third quarter visit to custodial centres in the state, saying that the warning became imperative because such sentencing brings about congestion in custodial centres.

A statement signed and made available to DAILY POST by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Bauchi State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, SC Adam Abubakar Jibrin, said the Chief Judge admonished the released inmates to be law abiding citizens and shun crime.

Justice Umar also addressed inmates with terrorism-related charges who have been languishing in custody for a long time without trial, assuring them that government and relevant agencies are doing everything possible to address their problems.

The CJ, who alongside members of Administration of Criminal Justice Committee visited the custodial centres in Misau, Zaki, Gamawa, Azare, Jama’are, Ningi and Bauchi, then urged them to remain calm and exercise more patience.

In his welcome address, the Comptroller of Correctional Centre, Bauchi State Command, CCS Kabir Abba Galadanci, commended the CJ and the state government for making the visit to custodial centres possible.

He said the visit would go a long way in decongesting the centres in the state and further give hope to the inmates.

Members of the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, DAILY POST learnt, are the Nigerian Police, the Director Public Prosecution (DPP) in the state Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bauchi Chapter, and the Comptroller of Correctional Centre.