An Area Court is the lower court in the hierarchy of courts in Nigeria. Such courts handle most civil cases and sometimes criminal. On approaching some Area Courts located in rural areas of Adamawa state Northeast Nigeria, one may mistakenly assume that it is a habitat of rodents and their status is causing a delay in the dispensation of justice.
Among these courts, which structures are currently in the deplorable state is Ngurore Area Court in Yola South local government area.
Apart from the fact that the wall of the building has become weakened some of the rusty roofing sheets are on the verge of flying off, posing danger to the community while the damaged ceilings hanging in the balance and threatening to fall down any moment.
Asides the deplorable status of the court, it is difficult for a first time visitor to identify the location of the courts due to absence of signposts that could guide.
The condition of this court during rainy season has contributed immensely to prolonging cases and also during the dry season when the weather becomes hot, judges have no option than to adjourn cases because of the hot rays of sun that penetrate directly on the judge’s chair in the court hall.
He explained that during the rainy season when adjournments were done more than once it discourages litigants with some threatening to forget about the case, especially the low-income earners.
The dilapidated nature of some courts affects the proceedings and the litigants because the litigants will end up paying the counsel appearance fees from his pocket, so the whole burden is on the litigant, he said.
However, in the 2019 budget, N68, 017,210 was budgeted for the renovation of six court halls in the six judicial divisions, and another N6, 000,000 was earmarked for reconstruction and renovation of courtrooms.
Despite provision was made in the previous budget including the 2019 budget there were renovations in the years under review. The Executive arm of government is responsible for releasing funds to carry out such projects.
With a new government in place in Adamawa state, it has also become difficult to ascertain why the previous regime has not carried out the renovations, however, a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the previous government has not implemented the budgets of years under review to the fullest and renovations of the Area courts was amongst areas affected.
“Money for the renovations of courts was not released, though it was captured in the previous budgets”. he said.
Baba Gurin Abbo, an Area Court Judge who is also the Chairman Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria JUSUN, Adamawa state Chapter who spoke on behalf of the judges bemoaned the condition of area courts in Adamawa. He revealed that in Adamawa state there are about 127 Area courts and most of them are situated in the rural areas.
But, according to the Adamawa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Barr Afraimu Jingi judiciary will receive government attention, which will include improvement of infrastructure.
“We cannot do anything outside the budget and His Excellency Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri had stated that judiciary will receive government attention, which will include improvement of infrastructure and welfare of judicial staff”. he said.
When contacted for comments, the Chief Registrar, Adamawa state High Court Barrister Musa Usman declined to elaborate on the matter. He, however, said the condition of the affected courts has been forwarded to the government for action.
Adamawa state branch Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association Barr Aji Kamale described the condition of courts as worrisome, pathetic which affects the dispensation of justice, maintained that “when the court is bad and judges don’t sit it affects us (lawyers) so also the litigants, naturally when you go to court and justice has not done you will feel somehow”.
Aji stated that “in a situation where Judges cannot sit for more than five hours, it affects the dispensation of justice, litigants will continue coming to courts spending their money on transport, feeding, payment of appearance fee for lawyers, economically on the part of litigants is not conducive”.
“It affects us (lawyers) economically while leaving Yola to appear for a case outside the state capital you will be running helter-skelter without concentrating in office and attends to other official matters”. He averred. Before then, Alhaji Umar Pawa, a litigant, had nothing ever to do with Area Courts; however, he came in contact with the Ngurore Area court as a result of a civil case of breach of trust he filed before the court.
“The condition of the court is adding burden on me, I brought witnesses, not once or twice, and when it rains, the judge had no option than to adjourn the case till another day because the roof of the court hall was blown off, we are calling on those concerned to look into the issue of this court because cases could not be heard especially during the rainy season”. a frustrated Mr. Pawa said.
