Aminu Balarabe –Isah, the permanent commissioner of the Bauchi State Hisbah Department, says 4,923 complaints were received in the past year.

Mr Balarabe –Isah who spoke on Wednesday, in an interview with journalists, said of the cases, 4,672 were treated.

He said the cases were of different types and categories formally lodged at the department by parties seeking amicable resolutions.

The Commissioner said most of the cases had been resolved through out-of-court settlements to avoid overstretching the courts and reduce its burden.

The department, he said, also recovered N1.8 million from defaulting individuals and groups, adding that it had been reimbursed to complainants within the period under review.

The commissioner said that N389,650 and N265,750 of the amount had been paid to divorced pregnant and nursing mothers for their upkeep, respectively.

Mr Balarabe-Isah added that some N904,000 recovered from debt defaulters had been shared as an inheritance to deserving heirs.

He lauded the state government for providing logistics to the department which enabled it to perform optimally, saying, “we would sustain the tempo.”

Mr Balarabe –Isah, however, appealed for the establishment of the Hisbah Board, adding that, “establishing a board would further guarantee our independence and boost our performances.”

(NAN)