About 75 individuals were reportedly killed in homicide incidents, 28 others kidnapped, and 86 sexual assault cases recorded in Bauchi State within a one-year period.
The Bauchi State Ministry of Justice disclosed the figures, which cover cases documented between December 2024 and December 2025.
Speaking at the end of the 2025 legal year, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hassan Usman (SAN), said, “From January to date, we received 91 robbery cases, as against last year’s 83. We also received 75 homicide cases. We were served with motions for bails and other motions totalling about 256 and we received about 86 rape and 28 kidnap cases.
“In total, we received 592 criminal cases. Out of this number, 97 have been disposed of, 15 discharged through legal advice, and 454 are pending.”
He explained that due to the high volume of cases, the ministry developed new strategies to speed up prosecutions in line with the administration of criminal justice law, which emphasises timely trials by setting deadlines for filing charges and commencing proceedings.
Usman noted that Governor Bala Mohammed approved the release of N7.8 million for the purchase of law and practice books for the ministry’s library. He added that the governor also approved monthly funding to settle outstanding judgment debts incurred by the state government. He commended the governor for his support and commitment to strengthening the Ministry of Justice.
Earlier, the state’s Chief Judge, Rabi Umar, criticised the persistent practice of arraigning suspects without adequate preliminary investigation. She said efforts to gather evidence in many cases only begin after the trial is underway.
“This backward approach to criminal prosecution significantly delays the process and undermines the delivery of justice. It is unacceptable that in 2025, we continue to see such practices, which contributed to the overwhelming backlog of cases in our courts and ultimately eroded public confidence in the justice system.
“To resolve this and other identified lapses, a committee was set up to review the Bauchi State Administration of Criminal Justice Law and come up with a draft law that will stand the test of time,” she said.
She further stated that any lawyer who fails to comply with the prescribed dress code for legal practitioners in the state would not be allowed to appear in court, stressing that disregard for professional ethics undermines the prestige and global respect of the legal profession.
In his remarks, Governor Mohammed said the three arms of government in Bauchi State had been working in harmony without compromising their constitutional independence. Represented by his deputy, Auwal Jatau, he said he had continued to provide the necessary support to ensure that all arms of government function optimally and without hindrance.
