Small Claims Debt Recovery Court Set Up In Bayelsa

A special court has been inaugurated in Bayelsa State for the recovery of small claims debts of up to N5 million.
Speaking at the inauguration of the five-member management committee of the courts, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Kate Abiri noted that the idea of small claims court was conceived to accord legal inclusiveness to aggrieved persons whose claims are denied space and time in the congested and expensive dispute resolution platforms.
She regretted the expensive and time consuming traditional adjudicatory system, saying it offered little or no succour to litigants with small claims, especially those relating to commercial disputes.
“We can imagine the plight of a small business operator who is owed money for goods supplied. To recover the debts, our businessmen have to go through a litigation system that may take eternity to reach a final decision.
“Oftentimes, the party may have spent much more than what he seeks to recover. Indeed, it is a fact that most businesses have closed down in Nigeria due to our courts delay in enforcing contracts,” Abiri said.
The Bayelsa Chief Judge noted that in spite of being the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria ranked 131 out of 191 economies of the world on ease of doing business, as revealed by the latest World Bank annual ratings. She said the enforcement of contracts by courts is one of the criteria used in ranking ease of doing business.
Justice Abiri also disclosed that the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Committee was collaborating with Bayelsa government and providing technical assistance and support in the establishment of four pilot small claims courts.
The members of the Management of the small claims courts are, Justice Timipre Songi, Chairman, Ebiere Empere, Secretary, Florizel Obiri, Justina Daniel and Kelvin Amanawa.
Giving an overview of small claims courts Mrs Abise Theophilus, Deputy Chief Registrar, Bayelsa High Court said that the courts, which would be presided over by a magistrate would deliver judgement within 14 days of concluding hearing and ensure that the cases are concluded within 30 day.
Theophilus explained that litigants do not have to hire a lawyer to approach the special courts which are less formal and more flexible than regular courts as litigants are allowed to represent themselves.
The Chairman, Yenagoa branch of Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Ukumbiriowei Saiyou, assured that the bar would support the efforts by the judiciary in Bayelsa to expedite the dispensation of justice.
The Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council in Bayelsa, HRH Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV of Ekpetiama, applauded the establishment of the special courts which are expected to enhance the access to justice.
He noted that the courts would encourage the use of legal options to settle disputes as opposed to self help which sometimes result in loss of lives.