The Bauchi State Government has revealed that they have successfully tried 2,500 cases over a span of five years, securing convictions in 20 criminal cases. The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Hassan El-Yakub (SAN), shared this information during a State Ministerial briefing. Approximately 557 cases involving offenses like armed robbery, culpable homicide, rape, and kidnapping were recorded between January 2023 and June 2024.
Prior to El-Yakub’s tenure, the state spent about N500 million annually on external solicitors for high-profile cases. However, this has changed, with the ministry now handling all such cases internally, resulting in substantial cost savings. Additionally, the Ministry has successfully defended against garnishee proceedings, saving the state N1.8 billion.
Furthermore, the Ministry generated N236.6 million from drafting legal documents since 2023. El-Yakub also addressed challenges like understaffing and lack of resources that have hindered productivity in the Ministry.
One notable case involved a Bauchi resident, Daniel Isaac, who received a one-year jail sentence after being found in public past curfew hours.