By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—Edo State Government has repealed the Act establishing the state’s Customary Court of Appeal that had hitherto existed alongside the state High Courts.

Addressing newsmen after endorsing the Bill repealing the Act Establishing the Customary Court of Appeal, the state governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, said: “I have just signed into law the bill to repeal the establishment of the Customary Court of Appeal in Edo State. With effect from today, the Customary Court of Appeal ceases to exist and this amendment to the Edo State High Court provides for, among other things, the abolition of the Customary Court of Appeal. It also provides for the automatic transfer of all the Judges that are currently serving in the Customary Court of Appeal and they will be transferred to the state High Court.

“With the abolition of the Customary Court of Appeal, the Judges in Edo State High Court are now, by reason of this amendment, increased from 24 to 30 in order to provide our people with speedy access to justice. At the moment, we have close to 6,000 cases pending before 24 judges of the state High Court. With this amendment, all 30 Judges will now be able to hear any of these cases as may be assigned by the Chief Judge.

“The second element to the amendment is that the Judges that have now been transferred from the Customary Court of Appeal, to the state High Court, although they are required by law to subscribe to new oaths of office, will retain their seniority in Edo State Judiciary so that there will be no loss of seniority and lastly, by this amendment, appeals arising from the decisions of Area Customary Court Presidents will still be heard but rather than have six judges dedicated to hear such cases that arise from time to time, the state Chief Judge will now assign Judges of the High Court to hear appeals from Area Customary Courts,” the governor explained.