From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Chief Judge and Chairman Judicial Service Commission, Justice Aisha Aliyu, has signed Small Claims Court creation warrant to pave way for the establishment of special courts for easy access to justice in the state.
The Voice reports that a Small Claims Court is a specialised court or local tribunal created by statute with specific duties and power to provide judicial determination of disputes involving small amounts of money quickly and cheaply with or without legal representation.
Aliyu, while signing the small claims courts creation warrant on Tuesday in Lafia, said it would bring sanity to the judicial system, entangled with sharp practices by some law enforcement agents.
According to her, the small claims courts will be established in the 13 local government areas of the state, saying that magistrates would be given time frame to dispense justice because of its specialised nature.
She said the courts when established will handle cases like armed robbery, kidnapping, culpable homicide that have put prisons under pressure.
“This issue of small claims is something that was agitating on my mind ever since I became Chief Judge, because we have petitions, complaints from farmers, and other members of society who are being short changed by the Police and Civil Defence Corps.
“You won’t believe it, the claims may be small but those that take advantage of the parties they pay more than the claims they are asking for, so when we find avenue of relief like small claims, we grab at it eagerly.
“We will not allow it to go like a normal season procedure way, so we will give them time frame, we’ll not allow it go indefinitely, if we don’t give time frame the aim will be defeated,” she said.
Also speaking, Vice President, Business Reform and Ease of Doing Business, Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency, Mrs Stella Ajige, said the signing of the claims was in line with Governor Abdullahi Sule’s mandate to make justice accessible to all.
She said the small claims courts when established, will also advance business environment in creating enabling environment for business to thrive in the state.
“Small claims are specialised fast track courts that are established within the existing structure of magistrates, that even low income earners, business owners and entrepreneurs are able to access justice for claims that are probably less than five million naira,” she said.
On his part, Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Lafia, Mustapha, Sadiq, commended the Chief Judge, for taking a bold step to sign small claims courts creation warrant in the state.
He said it would bring succour to petty traders and farmers when it comes to recovery of claims.