The Adamawa State Judicial Service Commission has declared that bail is free and warned judicial officers, court employees and law enforcement personnel against demanding or accepting money from persons seeking bail, threatening immediate disciplinary proceedings against anyone found violating the directive.
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The warning was contained in a circular dated August 24, 2026, issued from the office of the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman, as the judiciary moved to reinforce the principle that obtaining bail should not become an avenue for extortion.
According to the commission, no judge, magistrate or member of the judicial staff is permitted to demand or receive payment as a condition for granting bail.
“Any officer found collecting or demanding payment for bail will face immediate disciplinary proceedings,” the commission warned.
The directive extends beyond court personnel to law enforcement operatives involved in the bail process, making clear that citizens should not be compelled to make unofficial payments before obtaining their freedom where bail has been granted or is otherwise available under the law.
The JSC said its intervention was intended to ensure strict compliance with the free-bail principle and prevent the exploitation of defendants, suspects, their relatives and other persons seeking to secure bail.
The directive does not mean that courts cannot impose a bail bond or other lawful conditions, but prohibits officers from demanding or collecting money personally as the price for granting or processing bail.
The commission’s position was announced alongside a major personnel decision affecting the state judiciary, with the JSC approving the promotion of 458 judicial workers across different divisions.
The promotions were approved at the commission’s 187th meeting, chaired by Justice Abdulrahman, who also serves as Chairman of the Adamawa State Judicial Service Commission.
According to the breakdown released by the commission, the promotions cut across the Magistrates’ Division, Area Court Division, Sharia Court of Appeal and Customary Court of Appeal.
In the Magistrates’ Division, 42 magistrates were promoted.
The commission also approved promotions for 26 administrative and executive officers and confidential secretaries, as well as 59 registrars within the division.
The Area Court Division recorded the largest number of beneficiaries, with 114 Area Court judges and members receiving promotions.
Another 26 administrative and executive officers in the Area Court Division were promoted, alongside 146 registrars.
At the Sharia Court of Appeal, the commission approved the promotion of 22 administrative and executive officers, confidential secretaries and registrars.
A further 23 administrative and executive officers, confidential secretaries and registrars were promoted at the Customary Court of Appeal.
Altogether, the various categories amount to 458 promoted judicial personnel.
The commission said the decisions formed part of efforts to strengthen the administration of justice in Adamawa State, while its renewed warning on bail payments was aimed at protecting citizens from unlawful demands and maintaining public confidence in the justice system.
With the circular, the Adamawa judiciary has put officers on notice that any demand for unofficial payment in exchange for bail could attract disciplinary consequences, reiterating its central message that “bail is free.”
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