Oyo CJ signs practice direction for Small Claims Court

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola, has signed into Law the Practice Direction for the Small Claims Court (SCC) in the state.

The state’s High Court Information Officer, Mrs Comforth Udoh, said in a statement in Ibadan, that Abimbola signed the law by virtue of Section 274 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Abimbola said that signing the law was also in accordance to Section 3 of Magistrate Court Law, CAP 82 VOL 3 Laws of Oyo State.

This followed the report tendered by the SCC committee to Abimbola on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Abimbola had on Nov. 22, inaugurated the committee for the setting up of SCC, to handle financial cases below N5 million for quick dispensation of justice.

The chief judge said that the aim was to also provide stakeholders with an accessible, inexpensive and speedy resolution of financial disputes.

“The SCC is part of the Oyo State Judiciary reform agenda for effective and efficient administration of justice.

“The reduction of time for dispute resolution, as well as improvement of transparency in the administration of justice,” he said.

Abimbola said that the committee was to work out modalities for the establishment and operation of the court and had 14 days to submit their report.

“The SCC committee comprises: Justice O.S. Adeyemi; Mrs O. A Ogunrin (DCR probate), Secretary; Mrs A.A Lawore-Akinyele (DCR Magistrate Matters); Mr A Adisa (DCR II); Mrs Ebeloku-Mustapha (DCR II); Mr S.H. Adebisi (DCR II) and Ms Suliat Salawudeen (Acting Director, Oyo State Multi-Door Court House).