THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, (PEBEC) on the 5^th and 6^th of October, 2022 in conjunction with the Lagos State Judiciary organized a training session for operators of small Claims Court, where the operators of Small Claims Courts and would be operators were introduced to the Small Claims Court and its establishment.

Small Claims Courts are specialized fast track Courts designated to restore simple and liquidated debt disputes of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) and below. This Courts provide Stakeholders with an accessible, inexpensive and speedy resolution platform for simple and liquidated debt recovery disputes.

Secondly, it will help to decongest the dockets of the Courts (High Courts) as there is early dispensation of cases involving Claims of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) and below within 60 working days from the date of the filing  of the cases. The Courts are to be manned by Magistrates and is to be established in all the Magisterial District.

ESTABLISHMENT OF SMALL CLAIMS COURT;

Upon the receipt of the report of the training, the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice T.E. Chukwuemeka-Chikeka, MPOM, FCIArb, M.DRI, F.DRI swung into action by constituting and inaugurating the Judicial Committee with;

1.   Hon. Justice B.C. Iheka                        -       Chairman

2.   Hon. Justice C.N. Okereke                    -       Member

3.   U.M. Njoku Esq, Chief Registrar             -       Member

4.   B.U. Adikibe Esq, DCR IV                      -       Member

5.   S. U. Odom Esq, Chief Magistrate          -       Secretary

The Judicial Committee has the mandate of making the Small Claims Court a reality, so on inauguration the Committee took off and developed steps and plans for its assignment and recommended for the presence of the Ministry of Finance in the process, upon which two persons from the office of the Accountant-General Mr. Callistus Chukwu, SABER representative and Chinyere Ohaegbulam Esq, were co-opted into the Judicial Committee as members.

The Judicial Committee true to it’s mandate, has produced the Practice Direction and Hand book, designate Magistrates and staff to man the Courts in the various Magisterial District of the State.

The Judicial Committee also recommended to the Chief Judge for the upward increase in the monetary Jurisdiction of the Magistrates to which end the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Most Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma has by Executive Order increased the monetary jurisdiction of Chief Magistrate GD. I to N15, 000,000.00 (Fifteen million Naira).

With this increase in the monetary Jurisdiction the Small Claims Court is ready to go and here we go.