The Cross River State Judiciary in collaboration with the Secretariat, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) held a 2-day training on Small Claims Court for Magistrates and Court Officials on the 26th and 27th of March 2024 at the Judiciary Headquarters, Mary Slessor Avenue Calabar to fast-track dispensation of justice to litigants seeking to recover debts in business transactions not exceeding 5million naira.
The Honourable Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Akon B. Ikpeme (FNISM, FICMC, F.DRI, JP) who spoke after the training, stated that residents of the state being owed debts in business transactions by their business associates have no reason to visit higher courts but visit the Small Claim Courts to file their complaints.
While speaking with Journalist after the training, she explained that the court was established to provide easy access to informal, inexpensive and speedy resolution of simple matters. She said the establishment of such the Court was aimed at bringing justice closer to people at the grassroots level.
The CJ said “Nigeria is evolving and you know we are really in a business interactive era. The small claims court is about money liquidation. The aim of the small claims court is that, unlike the regular courts where you are slowed down by technicalities, hearing and judgment in the Small Claims Court will be fast-tracked in a manner that the bottlenecks of undue delay would be removed in the administration of justice. Cases that lasted 10, 15 years before, are to be dispensed within 60 days, particularly cases involving money liquidation”.
The Chairman, Small Claims Court Committee, Justice Elias Abua, also spoke in company of two other Judges – Justice Victor Offiong and Justice Angela Obi , advising members of the public wishing to make recovery of their money to visit the Small Claims Court Registry located in the Magistrate Court Complex, Moore Road, Calabar to file their complaints.