The Bauchi State Ministry of Justice has released fresh crime data indicating that the state recorded 592 criminal cases during the 2024–2025 legal year.
The figures were disclosed on Tuesday by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hassan Usman, SAN, during the opening ceremony of the 2025–2026 legal year in Bauchi.
Usman explained that out of the total 592 criminal matters received by the Ministry, only 97 cases have been concluded, while 15 were discharged after legal advice from the state’s Department of Public Prosecutions. A total of 454 cases are still pending.
The Attorney General said the Ministry was working to improve the speed of prosecution in order to reduce delays. According to him, new strategies have been introduced in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), which guides how criminal cases should be handled in the state.
The crime statistics demonstrated that Bauchi, like many states in Nigeria, continues to face challenges linked to insecurity, social problems, and weaknesses in the justice system. The 86 rape cases form one of the highest categories of offences recorded, raising concerns about the safety of women, girls, and vulnerable persons in the state.
Homicide cases, numbering 75, reflect incidents where individuals lost their lives through violence. Kidnapping, another major security concern across Nigeria, accounted for 28 cases in the period under review. Meanwhile, robbery cases climbed to 91, compared to the 83 cases recorded in the previous legal year.
While presenting the figures, the Attorney stressed that the Ministry of Justice was determined to improve the speed of case handling. Long delays in prosecution have been one of the biggest obstacles in Nigeria’s criminal justice system, often causing loss of evidence, prolonged detention of suspects, and frustration for victims seeking justice.
He said the Ministry has developed new strategies based on the ACJL, including setting clear timelines for filing charges, completing investigations, and holding court sessions.
“Our aim is to fast-track the criminal justice process. We want cases to move faster and avoid the kind of delays that discourage victims and allow suspects to spend unnecessary time in detention,” Usman said.
He added that the Ministry plans to engage more closely with the police and other investigative bodies to ensure that cases sent to the Ministry are properly prepared before they reach the courts.
In her remarks at the ceremony, the Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Umar, expressed concern over what she described as a recurring problem in the justice system: suspects being arraigned in court before proper investigations are carried out.
She explained that in many cases, the police or investigators wait until trials begin before making serious efforts to gather evidence. According to her, this practice creates significant delays and sometimes weakens the case against accused persons.
“In many cases, efforts to gather evidence are only initiated after the trial has begun,” she said. “This backward approach significantly delays justice and undermines public confidence in our legal system.”
The Chief Judge emphasized that justice can only be achieved when cases are well-investigated and properly prepared before they are taken to court. She called on law enforcement agencies to prioritize thorough investigations as required by law.
Justice Umar noted that the Judiciary, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, has established a committee to review the Bauchi State Administration of Criminal Justice Law. The committee is tasked with recommending reforms aimed at addressing current challenges and improving the overall efficiency of the justice system.
