Bail Is Free’: Adamawa CJ Warns Judges, Police Against Extortion, Promotes 458 Judicial Staff

 

 The Adamawa State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has issued a stern directive warning judges, magistrates, court clerks, and security personnel that demanding or accepting money to grant bail is a punishable offense.  

The warning was contained in an official circular issued by the office of the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman.  

The state’s judicial authority warned that any officer found demanding financial compensation as a condition for bail will face immediate disciplinary proceedings and potential dismissal.  

"Bail is free under Nigerian law," the circular stated, emphasizing that the directive extends to police officers and law enforcement agents involved in the bail process.  

Justice Abdulrahman stressed that obtaining bail must not be turned into an illegal revenue venture or a tool for exploiting suspects and their families.  

In a concurrent administrative exercise aimed at boosting morale, the JSC approved the promotion of 458 judicial personnel across various cadres.

The exercise saw 42 magistrates, 114 Area Court judges, 231 registrars, and dozens of executive secretaries advanced across the Magistrates’ Division, Area Courts, Sharia Court of Appeal, and Customary Court of Appeal.