By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Abdulmalik has upgraded the practice direction for the Small Claims Court in the state raising their financial jurisdiction to handle cases within the threshold of N5m.
The Chief Registrar of the Niger State High Court, Amina L. Musa-Saidu stated this in a press release issued in Minna.
“Significant changes include an increase in the financial jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court, raising the threshold from ₦3,000,000 (three million naira) to ₦5,000,000 (five million naira). This adjustment allows a broader range of litigants to pursue debt recovery and related claims efficiently and at reduced costs”, she said.
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The Chief Registrar explained that Article 5 of the practice direction has been revised to simplify the service of summons, now allowing for substituted service via electronic mail addingthat, “this enhancement aims to improve clarity, transparency, and timelines in notifying parties, ultimately minimizing delays”.
According to her, Small Claims Courts in the state have been increased from two to
14 in numbers spread across the state and operating in designated Magistrate Courts, adding that “Article 14 has been simplified to streamline appeal procedures, ensuring litigants have rapid access to appellate review without facing unnecessary technicalities”.
According to the statement, the Chief Judge emphasized that these reforms demonstrate the judiciary’s steadfast dedication to enhancing access to justice and building public confidence in the judicial system.
She therefore appealed to stakeholders to familiarize themselves with these new provisions in order to maximize the use of Small Claims Courts for resolving simple debt recovery matters.
The Chief Registrar explained that the updated practice direction for Small Claims Courts has been published in State Gazette No. 16 of 2025, adding that the revised direction supersedes the 2018 guidelines.
