36,712 cases pending in Rivers courts, chief judge reveals
A total of 36,712 cases are pending in various courts in Rivers, the chief judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, said on Thursday in Port Harcourt.
Mr Amadi said, at a special court session to mark the beginning of the 2023/2024 legal year in Rivers, that most cases had been in court since the preceding legal year.
He said high courts in Rivers carried over 11,074 cases from the 2022/2023 legal year, disposing of 5,041. Mr Amadi added that magistrates courts carried 14,943 cases into the new legal year, and the Customary Court of Appeal brought forward 88 cases into the new legal year.
The chief judge said the judiciary in Rivers generated N645 million in the previous year.
The chief judge also revealed that he received 50 petitions from lawyers and litigants seeking the transfer of their cases already assigned to magistrates and judges, pointing out that frivolous petitions hampered the smooth dispensation of justice.
The Rivers chief judge also mentioned that the judiciary in the state needed at least 300 employees to address the manpower deficiency.
The commissioner for justice, Zaccheaus Adangor, decried the unprofessional conduct of legal practitioners who sought to tarnish the integrity of judges when they lose cases.
A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Onueze Okocha, commended the judiciary in Rivers for the feats it achieved in the past.
NBA Port Harcourt chair Victor Benebo urged judicial officers to discharge their duties without fear or favour. Mr Benebo also called for improved welfare for magistrates in the state to enable them to perform well.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Africa
ECOWAS parliament advocates urgent action to tackle regional climate crisis
Speaker Mémounatou Ibrahima made the appeal at the Parliament’s 2026 Second Extraordinary Session Seminar on Monday in Accra, Ghana.
Heading 4
UK women, partners to get two weeks’ bereavement leave after miscarriage from next year
“From April, women and their partners will be entitled to two weeks off after any pregnancy loss,” Mr Burnham said.
Africa
Climate Change: 32 million West Africans may become refugees by 2050, says ECOWAS
ECOWAS says 32 million West Africans risk being displaced from their communities due to climate change.
States
Navy recovers 182,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Rivers
The Nigerian Navy recovered 182,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Rivers.
Economy
Edible oil tanker drivers suspend planned strike
NUEOTDN President Ilias Aperun said the decision followed interventions by the federal government and the State Security Service (SSS).
States
Lagos APC governorship candidate Hamzat rallies voters for 2027
Mr Hamzat expressed concern about declining voter participation, noting that of the 6.2 million registered voters in Lagos in the last election, only about 1.2 million voted.
