As part of efforts to fast track justice delivery in
commercial disputes involving small claims, the Lagos State
Judiciary, on Monday inaugurated Small Claims Courts to help with
the process.
The inauguration of the Small Claims Courts, took place at JIC
Taylor Court House, Igbosere, Lagos.
The Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, said that the Small Claims
Courts would operate at the magistrate level and adjudicate on
claims not exceeding N5 million.
She said that the establishment of the courts was one of the
reforms she promised to carry out to move the Lagos Judiciary
forward in her inaugural address last year.
According to Justice Oke, 15 magistrate courts have been
designated as Small Claims Courts within the five judicial
divisions in the state.
“Coincidentally, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment
Council (PEBEC), a World Bank initiative, under the office of the
Vice President on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, also has
as part of its reforms ‘Enforcement of Contracts“, with the
introduction of specialized small claims commercial courts at the
centre of the reforms. For this purpose, two states were chosen as
Pilot States, Lagos State and Kano State”.
Justice Oke stated that in January this year, she set up a
five-member Small Claims Court Committee comprising a Judge of the
High Court, Justice Yetunde Adesanya, as Chairman and four
Magistrates, three of whom she said are Chief Magistrates with
administrative portfolio with the role of providing Enabling
Business Environment Initiative.
According to her, the Committee was required to draft a Small
Claims Court procedures and guidelines and make recommendations for
matters incidental to the workings of the Small Claims Courts
within the Magistrates Courts’ system.
She was elated that the Lagos State Judiciary now has the
“Magistrates‘ Court Law (Practice Directions on Small Claims)“ for
the operation of the Small Claims Court”.
“The objective of the Small Claims Court’s Procedure is to provide
easy access to an informal, inexpensive and Speedy resolution of
simple debt recovery disputes in the Magistrates’ Courts, of
ciaims, not exceeding N5million.
She stated: “The Small Claims Court’s Procedure is simplified,
in that every step has been reduced into standard forms, which the
claimant or defendant/counter claimant as the case may be simply
fills and files, i.e. Letter of demand, Complaint Form, Claim’s
Form/Summons among others.
“There is a handbook/guide, which explains each step of the
process, guides through the filling of the forms and provide
answers to almost every conceivable question that a party who is
desirous of using the process may have.
“There is a plan to have the Handbook printed in other
languages, including Yoruba, Hausa, Ibo and Pidgin English, to
encourage the use of the procedure and self representation by semi
illiterates and illiterates.
“The Procedure is inexpensive, and it gives rooms to self
-representation by parties. It also encourages amicable settlement
of the disputes.
The Procedure is fast and efficient, every step is time-bound with
sanctions for default.
“The entire hearing period from the first date of hearing,
inclusive of the time allowed for exploring amicable, settlements
must not exceed 30 days. The entire period of proceedings from
filing till judgment is not to exceed 60 days,” she stated.
The State Attorney General, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, in his remarks at
the ocassion, said that the establishment of the courts will
complement the efforts of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s
administration geared towards enhancing justice delivery in the
state.
He further said that the courts are features of developed
countries like Britain, Russia, America among others.
As part of efforts to fast track justice delivery in
commercial disputes involving small claims, the Lagos State
Judiciary, on Monday inaugurated Small Claims Courts to help with
the process.
The inauguration of the Small Claims Courts, took place at JIC
Taylor Court House, Igbosere, Lagos.
The Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, said that the Small Claims
Courts would operate at the magistrate level and adjudicate on
claims not exceeding N5 million.
She said that the establishment of the courts was one of the
reforms she promised to carry out to move the Lagos Judiciary
forward in her inaugural address last year.
According to Justice Oke, 15 magistrate courts have been
designated as Small Claims Courts within the five judicial
divisions in the state.
“Coincidentally, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment
Council (PEBEC), a World Bank initiative, under the office of the
Vice President on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, also has
as part of its reforms ‘Enforcement of Contracts“, with the
introduction of specialized small claims commercial courts at the
centre of the reforms. For this purpose, two states were chosen as
Pilot States, Lagos State and Kano State”.
Justice Oke stated that in January this year, she set up a
five-member Small Claims Court Committee comprising a Judge of the
High Court, Justice Yetunde Adesanya, as Chairman and four
Magistrates, three of whom she said are Chief Magistrates with
administrative portfolio with the role of providing Enabling
Business Environment Initiative.
According to her, the Committee was required to draft a Small
Claims Court procedures and guidelines and make recommendations for
matters incidental to the workings of the Small Claims Courts
within the Magistrates Courts’ system.
She was elated that the Lagos State Judiciary now has the
“Magistrates‘ Court Law (Practice Directions on Small Claims)“ for
the operation of the Small Claims Court”.
“The objective of the Small Claims Court’s Procedure is to provide
easy access to an informal, inexpensive and Speedy resolution of
simple debt recovery disputes in the Magistrates’ Courts, of
ciaims, not exceeding N5million.
She stated: “The Small Claims Court’s Procedure is simplified,
in that every step has been reduced into standard forms, which the
claimant or defendant/counter claimant as the case may be simply
fills and files, i.e. Letter of demand, Complaint Form, Claim’s
Form/Summons among others.
“There is a handbook/guide, which explains each step of the
process, guides through the filling of the forms and provide
answers to almost every conceivable question that a party who is
desirous of using the process may have.
“There is a plan to have the Handbook printed in other
languages, including Yoruba, Hausa, Ibo and Pidgin English, to
encourage the use of the procedure and self representation by semi
illiterates and illiterates.
“The Procedure is inexpensive, and it gives rooms to self
-representation by parties. It also encourages amicable settlement
of the disputes.
The Procedure is fast and efficient, every step is time-bound with
sanctions for default.
“The entire hearing period from the first date of hearing,
inclusive of the time allowed for exploring amicable, settlements
must not exceed 30 days. The entire period of proceedings from
filing till judgment is not to exceed 60 days,” she stated.
The State Attorney General, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, in his remarks at
the ocassion, said that the establishment of the courts will
complement the efforts of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s
administration geared towards enhancing justice delivery in the
state.
He further said that the courts are features of developed
countries like Britain, Russia, America among others.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/lagos-cj-launches-small-claims-court/