Oyo and Rivers State Judiciaries, in partnership with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), have inaugurated Small Claims Judicial Committees to begin the process of establishing Small Claims Courts in their respective states.
Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the Special Adviser to the President, Ease of Doing Business and PEBEC Secretary, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja
The statement quoted that the PEBEC has worked with various State Judiciaries over the years to improve access to justice by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the establishment of small claims courts in line with its mandate to make Nigeria a progressively easier place to do business.
The statement also said the objective of this court is to improve the judicial process by making it easier to resolve simple debt recovery disputes involving small claims of five million naira (N5m) and below.
It added that judgements are expected to be delivered within 60 days for all claims filed in a small claims court, with an additional 30 days for enforcement.
The court also strongly encourages self-representation and adheres to strict timelines for important court events.
So far, small claims courts have been established in Lagos, Kano, Edo, Ogun, Ekiti, Jigawa, and Nasarawa States.
The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Ladipo Abimbola, who inaugurated the Small Claims Judicial Committee for the establishment of Small Claims Court in Oyo State on November 22, 2022, emphasized the importance of Small Claims Courts in expediting simple financial cases.
He implored the committee, which will be chaired by Justice O.S. Adeyemi, to diligently carry out its mandate in accordance with the PEBEC guidelines and submit its report within 14 days of the inauguration.
