Edo State Government Scraps Off Customary Court Of Appeal

The Edo State Government on Tuesday repealed the Act establishing the Customary Court of Appeal in the state.

Governor Oshiomole

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who signed the Amendment Bill into law, said the Customary Court of Appeal had ceased to exist in the state.

Oshiomhole said with the development, the judges in the court were automatically transferred to the State High Court, thereby increasing the number of the State High Court judges from 24 to 30.

He explained that more judges were needed in the high courts for quick dispensation of justice.

The governor noted that it was unthinkable that not less than 6,000 cases were hitherto pending before only 24 judges of the high court.

Oshiomole said the new high court judges would now have the opportunity of hearing diverse cases and not just the appeals from the customary courts and the area courts.

He noted that although the law requires that the judges be sworn-in, they would retain their seniority.

The governor stressed that the amendment was in the best interest of the state.

He explained that appeals from the area courts and the customary courts would be entertained by judges of the High Courts as assigned to by the Chief Judge.