Niger State Chief Judge Designates Additional 11 District Courts for Simple Debt Recovery Claims
By Yahaya Zakka, Minna
The Chief Judge of Niger State, Hon. Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdul Malik, has designated eleven additional District Courts as Small Claims Courts. This decision increases the total number of Small Claims Courts in the state to thirteen.
In a statement released to the press and signed by the Chief Registrar, Amina L. Musa Saidu, it was noted that the Small Claims Courts were first established in Niger State in 2018, with pilot courts located in Minna and Suleja Districts.
A Small Claims Court is specifically for simple debt recovery claims with a value not exceeding ₦3,000,000. The court allows for accelerated proceedings, meaning that litigants do not necessarily need to engage a lawyer. The entire process, from filing to conclusion, is designed to be completed within 60 days.
The newly designated courts are as follows:
– Senior District Court 7, Minna
– Senior District Court 4, Suleja
– Chief District Court, Lapai
– Chief District Court, Kutigi
– Chief District Court, Bida
– District Court 2, Kontagora
– Chief District Court, Kagara
– Chief District Court, New Wuse
– Chief District Court, Agaie
– Chief District Court, Rijau
– Senior District Court, Paiko
– District Court, Madalla
– Senior District Court, Bosso
The statement encourages the general public to file their debt recovery cases at the Small Claims Courts for a more efficient trial process.
