The Federal High Court in Warri Judicial Division, Delta State, has yet to resume its regular proceedings following the annual leave due to the absence of a presiding judge, according to SaharaReporters.
Despite the Federal High Court’s previous announcement of the annual vacation for its judges, which was slated from 24 July to 15 September 2023, there has been no judge to oversee cases and trials filed by litigants at the court since the vacation ended on September 18th.
This shortage of judges can be attributed to the recent appointment of nine Justices of the Court of Appeal in September, including the controversial Justice Okon Abang, who previously presided over the Federal High Court’s Warri Judicial Division. Since Justice Okon Abang’s elevation, there has been a void in judicial oversight in the Warri Division of the Federal High Court.
Sources within the court have revealed that no judicial activities are currently taking place, leading to a backlog of cases and inmates in Correctional Centers not being brought to court for their trials.
“Cases are not in progress while inmates in Correctional Centers have not been brought to court for their trials. Similarly, other litigants who have business in the court, have been denied their right to fair and speedy trial,” the source said.
| Sahara Reporters
