The Court of Appeal on Monday resumed sitting in Awka, after more than three decades, with 50 cases to be decided on the first day.
The Court of Appeal, Enugu Judicial Division, would sit in Anambra between April 18 and April 21, with two panels of three judges each presiding.
Speaking the Deputy Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Mr A.I. Maude, said that the first panel of the Court would be headed by Justice H.M Ogunwumiju, while the second panel would be headed by Justice M.A Oredola.
Maude said that Justices T.S. Yakubu and M.O Bolaji-Yusuf are on panel one, while R.M Pemu and E.A Agim are members of panel two.
“The decision to move the Court of Appeal which is in-Charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states to Awka, is because most of the cases there emanated from Anambra.
“The Court will attend to cases from Anambra only. The essence is to dispose the backlog of cases from the state, reduce the risk and cost of movement of lawyers and litigants from the state to Enugu.
“It is the tradition of the Court to move sittings around the states within its area of jurisdiction,’’ he said.
Maude expressed satisfaction with the reception they received from the Anambra Ministry of Justice, which he said was good for the smooth takeoff of the sitting.
In some of the cases decided earlier on Monday, a criminal case between Camillus Ikenso and the State was adjourned to April 22 for hearing.
Also, judgment was reserved in the case between Sylvester Akabueze and Chief Frank Onwudiwe Obi and sons, pending the payment of administrative fees for filling of Motion of Appeal by the plaintiff within seven days.
Meanwhile, the sitting of the Court of Appeal in Awka was welcomed with excitement by lawyers and litigants at the Anambra State high Court, venue of the sitting. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr J.O. Nnadi said it was a huge relief for him that he had to put off most of his appointments and hurry down to Awka.
“l was overjoyed when I heard that the Court of Appeal is coming to sit in Awka.
“It is a welcomed development because we had statistics which showed that most of the cases we go to Enugu for, actually emanated from Anambra,” he said.
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