Judges beg Makinde to revive customary courts

SOME Judges of the Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal, have appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to reconstitute Grade ‘ C’ Customary Courts urgently across the state.

They said it has become expedient so that all pending applications/ appeals before the Courts can be resuscitated and dealt with.

According to them, for as long as those courts remained unconstitutional, common men at the grassroots level would be denied easy, quick and less expensive access to justice.

Speaking in Ibadan at a Special Court Session held to honour the outgoing acting President of the Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Abimbola OlatunjiDaniel, she said the grade ‘ C’ Customary Courts are grassroots Courts that are closest to the people.

She added that many land cases in rural areas and a large percentage of matrimonial and child custody matters and other matters are handled by these courts.

She said: “Customary Courts Grade ‘ C’ have been disbanded for two years now. We have over 690 Grade ‘ C’ Customary Courts all over the state and a great deal of the appeals and applications comes to this Court.

“I will pray for their reconstitution as soon as possible so that all the pending applications/ appeal can be resuscitated and dealt with.”

The retiring judge also urged the state governor to appoint legal practitioners to head the Grade ‘ C’ Customary Courts, saying that the courts are still being manned by a layman.

“The 21st century is very fast and artificial intelligence has been employed in all spheres. Our state is ripe to amend our Customary Courts Laws to accommodate learned personnel to head our Grade ‘ C’ Customary Courts,” she said.