The Bauchi State High Court says it has concluded arrangements to establish small claims courts to entertain liquidated money demands in the 20 local government areas of the state.
Mrs Fatima Abubakar, the Chief Registrar of the Court, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Bauchi.
She said the development was sequel to the successes recorded by the three specialised courts piloted in Bauchi and Azare.
“In 2022, the high court established three small claims courts, two in Bauchi and one in Azare.
“These courts entertain claims from N1 million to N3 million, and it has accelerated proceedings where a litigant is free to represent himself without engaging a lawyer.
“The court procedure is being simplified from filing a case to judgement within sixty days. The courts have interpreters and filing fees subsidised,” she said.
Abubakar said the high court also established magisterial districts to facilitate speedy dispensation of justice at the grassroots.
Highlighting its scorecard in 2024, Abubakar said the court now had 17 high court judges and 35 Magistrates.
“The last number of high court judges was 12, but today we have 17, and nine additional Magistrates bringing the number to 35.”
She said the new judges were trained at the National Judicial Institute Abuja, while the Magistrates were also trained in Bauchi, adding that all the courts had moved to their permanent sites in the year under review.
“As of today, the Bauchi state government has renovated the twin court complex that houses eight high court halls. Also Magistrates’ courts two and three were renovated, currently work is ongoing at the other courts, ” she said.
She commended the government for providing the enabling environment that strengthened the judicial process in the state. (NAN)
