For years the court has lain dormant, its doors closed as the insurgency gripped the state, disrupting vital services and cutting off access to justice for many individuals in Borno State.

In a significant step towards enhancing access to justice in Borno State in Nigeria’s northeast, the recent resumption of Court of Appeal hearings in Maiduguri has sparked renewed hope for individuals who have long awaited their day in court.

For years the court has lain dormant, its doors closed as the insurgency gripped the state, disrupting vital services and cutting off access to justice for many.

During this period, those seeking appellate hearings had to travel to Gombe State, facing logistical and financial burdens that made justice feel increasingly out of reach for many.

Now, going forward, in a move to ease these challenges, the Gombe division of the Court of Appeal has committed to holding sessions in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, for four days at the end of each month.

This will reduce travel and accommodation costs for both lawyers and appellants. It will also save valuable time that is often wasted because of all the travelling and logistics involved.

Previously, individuals from Borno State and Damaturu in Yobe State were forced to travel to Gombe for hearings.

However, this month, the court resumed sessions in Maiduguri for the first time in years, bringing financial relief and the promises of quicker and more accessible justice.

Yahaya Alhaji Dunoma, a private legal practitioner and also a lecturer at Borno State University, told RNI that the Court of Appeal held a four-day session in the state capital from Monday, November 11, to Thursday, November 14.

“Going forward, it has committed to holding four-day sittings in Maiduguri at the end of each month,” he said.

“The Court of Appeal has not sat for in Maiduguri for a long time because of ongoing conflict. For years during the insurgency, it was closed down. The judiciary in Nigeria said it was not safe to hold sessions in Borno State because of the violent conflict.

“It is a relief for both lawyers and appellants that the court will be sitting once more in Maiduguri. We are happy with this development.

“Everyone is struggling in the present economic climate. The move will save both time and money. Travelling to Gombe for appeal sessions takes its toll on our pockets.

“It depends on what time you leave Maiduguri. If you leave too late, you have to break your journey and spend a night in a hotel in Damaturu in Yobe State. Once you are in Gombe, depending on the length of the hearing, you have to pay for food and accommodation in a hotel. These costs, of course, are on top of legal fees.

“The ever-increasing cost of fuel is prohibitive, beyond the means of many Nigerians. Most appellants do not have the means to sponsor the lawyer’s travel costs back and forth.

“So, when the court announced that, going forward, hearings would be heard in Maiduguri, many people breathed a sigh of relief. This will save time and money,” Dunoma said.

“Lawyers have been fighting to have an appeal division in Maiduguri for years but the conflict has not allowed for this. Now, with relative peace, comes access to justice.

“You can waste two to three days travelling to Gombe for hearings. While you are on the road and in Gombe, all your work in Maiduguri comes to a halt. Financially, it’s the accumulative cost of petrol, food and accommodation – and legal fees – all this just for a plea session.

“I will give you an example. A case I am dealing with now involves a complainant who wants to appeal a judgement. I explained to him that it would cost him not less that ₦100,000 just for my transport to Gombe – that does not include accommodation, food and legal fees. In the end, the elderly man decided not to appeal the judgement.

“For years, my clients have faced not only the challenge that came with the insurgency but also the financial and physical burdens of travelling to Gombe for hearings. They complain that because of these challenges they are not able to access justice and they often do not get their day in court.

“Now, with the Court of Appeal holding sessions locally, it feels like justice is finally becoming more accessible.

“This is a significant step towards making the justice system more inclusive and responsive to the needs of our community.” Dunoma said.

AYSHA MUSTAPHA KOLOMI