By ALEX ENEBELI

Enugu State inaugurated 10 Small Claims Courts on Wednesday to address the challenge of delays in the settlement of financial disputes, especially debt recovery and other monetary disputes.

The courts, to be presided over by magistrates will entertain financial disputes ranging between N5 million and N10 million.

Justice Reuben Odugu of the State High Court, who inaugurated the courts on behalf of Chief Justice Afojulu Ozoemena, said they would provide accessible, inexpensive, speedy forum for resolution of small monetary claims.

The claims, he added, could be heard with or without legal representation as the courts had limited jurisdiction to decide disputes between litigants.

“In human interactions and communications, particularly in the conduct of business, it is inevitable that disagreements will occur which usually will require the intervention of the judicial system for resolution.

“Consequently, the ability to resolve contractual disputes real time is fundamental in ensuring that markets and the economy function properly.

“In order to fulfil this obligation, the adoption of a system of dispute resolution that is fast, informal and inexpensive becomes imperative,” Odugu said.

He stressed that the courts were created with specific duties and powers to provide judicial determination of disputes involving small amounts of money.

“The legal framework for the operation of the court has been put in place.

“The Magistrates’ Court Law and the Magistrates’ Court (Civil Procedure) Rules of Enugu State are applicable to proceedings at the Small Claims Court, particularly in areas not covered by the Practice Directions (2023).

“The monetary jurisdiction of the court is N5 million, and up to a maximum of N10 million in the event of a counter-claim,” Odugu said.

He thanked the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council for its immense support in the training of the 10 magistrates and 10 assistant chief registrars to facilitate the establishment and operations of the courts.

Odugu also commended Gov. Peter Mbah, Chairman of Enugu State Ease of Doing Business Council for his commitment to effective justice dispensation in the state.

In his remarks, Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, said the establishment of the courts resulted from government’s determination to grow the state’s economy from 4.4 billion dollars to 30 billion dollars in the next four to eight years.

Ogbu-Nwobodo is the Managing Director of Enugu State Investment Development Authority and focal person of the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms.

He commended Mbah for his steadfastness in the pursuit of his investment-oriented social contract with the people of the state.

The event equally witnessed the unveiling of the court’s practice directions and Handbook on Small Claims Courts. (NAN)

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