The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, has approved the temporary relocation of Lapai High Court to the Chief Magistrate Court Complex in Lapai.
The announcement for the relocation of the court, which was contained in a press release signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, Hajiya Amina Lamide Musa, explained that the relocation was a result of the commencement of the renovation works at the High Court.
According to the Chief Judge, with this announcement, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Minna and Suleja, as well as litigants, should file their processes at the temporary location of the High Court.
It further directed members of the public and counsels to channel all their ligatigations and other necessary processes for prompt judicial and administrative action.
The Lapai High Court has been in deplorable condition for the last 10 years, as the ceiling board and entire building were almost falling down, forcing the workers to take refuge somewhere when it rained.
Apart from the ceiling, the roof and toilet facilities were begging for repairs, just as the judge's chamber and the registrar's office were not even habitable.
In a telephone interview with Newsline online in Minna at the weekend, the chief registrar of the state high court, Hajiya Amina Lamide Musa-Saidu, explained that the chief judge directed the immediate relocation of the high court during an inspection visit to the court.
She said during the visit, the chief judge discovered that the deplorable condition of the court would not be convenient for the staff to perform their duties effectively.
She explained that arrangements were on the ground to commence the renovation of the court; hence, the court has to be relocated pending the completion of the renovation work.