Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has disclosed that Small Claims Court (SCC) is a simplified judicial process that ensures speedy dispensation of simple debts and liquidated money demand cases in accordance with the soul and spirit of doing businesses.
Justice Rabi confirmed that the Bauchi State Judiciary has started this judicial intervention on Thursday 11 /05/2023 with three courts across the state under Magistrates Kawu Bala Esq, Abdullahi Garba Esq, and Zainab Shu’aibu Esq.
The Chief Judge, while unveiling the Small Claims Court, at High Court 1 in Bauchi said the successful operationalization of the court is largely dependent upon a functional and highly committed Judicial Committee under the chairmanship of Justice Mu’azu Abubakar.
“The Bauchi State Judiciary is starting this judicial intervention with three courts in which two will be situated in Bauchi Judicial Division and one in Katagum Judicial Division. The monetary jurisdiction of this court is a maximum of three million naira (N3, 000, 000)”.
Justice Rabi Umar assured that the intervention would be improved upon as time goes on in order to ease accessibility to the courts across the state, saying the judicial committee has already posted key court support officials like Sheriff’s, Bailiffs, Court Clerks, Court Registrars, among others, to the various courts.
She said that in addition, a website has been created for the High Court of Justice and a portal for the Small Claims Court hosted on the website.
“The profile page will be populated by historical information on Small Claims Court, Copy of the Practice Directions No.2 of 2022 and Handbook, location of each court, names and designation of each presiding judge, performance reports, copies of judgments and any other information the committee may prescribe from time to time”.
Justice Rabi Umar further said “All necessary forms, summons and files have been printed. I can comfortably assure you that we are ‘good to go’, as she formally inaugurated the Small Claims Court of Bauchi State on 11th Day of May 2023.
The Chief Registrar of the Bauchi State High Court, Barrister Subilom Emmanuel Danjuma, in a welcome address, said that the SCC is a judicial intervention derived from the global best practice in facilitating enforcement of contracts for micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs) and improving access to justice for small business holders.
Barrister Subilom Danjuma explained that the Small Claims Courts are a specialized fast-tract courts primarily established to within the existing structure of magistrate courts designated to provide claimants with an accessible, inexpensive, and speedy resolution platform for simple and liquidated debt recovery disputes.
