By Lizzy Carr
Bauchi State High Court of Justice is to establish small claim courts that will entertain liquidated money demands in the twenty local government areas of the State in 2025.
Chief Registrar of the Court Fatima Abubakar Esq said these specialized courts have been accepted among the people of Bauchi and Azare which has prompted the expansion.
Fatima Abubakar noted that in 2022 the high court established 3 small claim courts , two in Bauchi and one in Azare.
“These courts entertain claims from 1-3 million naira and it has accelerated proceedings, where a litigant is free to represent himself without the use of a lawyer”.
The chief Registrar added that the court procedure is simplified and that from filing to judgement is within sixty days.
She said there are interpreters and filing fees is subsidized.
The high court had also established magisterial districts to facilitate speedy dispensation of Justice at the grassroots.
Presenting the scorecard of the High Court of Justice for 2024, Fatima Abubakar Esq stated that for the first time the court has seventeen high court judges and 35 magistrates.
“2024 was a good year for the high court of Justice Bauchi, the last number of high court judges was 12, but today we have 17, and 9 additional magistrates bringing the number to 35”.
She further stated that the new judges have been trained at the National judicial institute Abuja while the magistrates have also undergone trainings in Bauchi.
The chief Registrar added that the year saw the high court moved all courts to their permanent sites.
“As as today the Bauchi State government has renovated the twin court complex that houses eight high court halls, also magistrates courts 2 and 3 were renovated, currently working is ongoing at other courts”.
She commended the State government for providing the high court an enabling environment to operate.