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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Court of Appeal has commenced special sittings in the Port Harcourt division, Rivers State, as part of activities marking its 50 years anniversary.
President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem disclosed that 17 panels comprising 51 Justices drawn from various divisions of the court were constituted to entertain 357 appeals and 272 pending motions.
The panels, she said, would sit throughout the week in scheduled sessions, with some sitting at the Port Harcourt Division and others at the High Court Complex. Due to inadequate accommodation, morning and afternoon sessions were also scheduled.
Justice Dongban-Mensem expressed appreciation to the Chief Judge of Rivers State for providing courtrooms for the exercise, a gesture she said facilitated the smooth conduct of proceedings.
She urged learned counsel and parties to approach the sitting with diligence and preparedness, ensuring processes were in order and issues capable of causing delays addressed in advance.
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The President noted that the panels were carefully constituted to ensure effective case management and meaningful deliberation in line with the court’s traditions.
She further highlighted the heavy workload borne by Justices, explaining that the court was scheduled to handle hundreds of cases in one week, requiring extraordinary effort beyond open court proceedings.
The jurist appealed to lawyers to assist the court by avoiding unnecessarily voluminous briefs and maintaining diligence in their practice.
She equally urged members of the legal profession to defend the integrity of the institution, encouraging criticism only when grounded in facts and figures.
Other highlights of the event include the official commissioning of the Court of Appeal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre, Port Harcourt division, which Justice Dongban-Mensem described as “a significant step in strengthening access to justice and promoting timely, efficient dispute resolution”.
President of the Court of Appeal, who gave glory to God Almighty for the privilege of convening the special session, described the occasion as a significant opportunity for the court to reflect on its enduring contributions to Nigeria’s jurisprudence and to renew its commitment to the faithful discharge of its constitutional mandate in the service of justice and the nation.
