The Court of Appeal Makurdi Division, Benue State has commenced alternate sitting in Lafia the Nasarawa State capital to dispense appeal cases from the state at a minimal cost.
Speaking during the sitting in Lafia, the Presiding Judge of the court, Justice, Ignatius Agube, said they have the approval of the President of the Court of Appeal in the country to hold the alternate setting.
He said that decision of the court to sit in Lafia was aimed at ensuring justice and assisting litigants and counsels from Lafia who had filed appeal cases in Makurdi, Benue State.
Agube said the alternate sitting which began on Monday, July 5, would last for two weeks before the 2021 legal year.
He, therefore, called on litigants and counsels to corporate with the court for its smooth operation and assured them of their determination to ensure justice.
Meanwhile, Nasarawa State Attorney-General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kana, expressed gratitude to the Judge for deciding to share sitting between the two states.
He said that the state government on their part would provide the necessary logistics in terms of accommodations and courtroom for their smooth sitting.
The AG also appealed that the sitting in the states should be on an equal basis and appealed to the necessary authority to establish a Court of Appeal in Nasarawa State.
Similarly, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Edward Ashiekaa, commended the initiative of commencing alternative sitting of Appeal Court in Lafia.
He said at their level, they would support the establishment of a Court of Appeal in Nasarawa State.
The Senior Advocate also used the medium and appealed to Governors of 36 states and other stakeholders to address the issue that led to the shutdown of courts in the country for two months to avert another shutdown.
