NBA Decries Relocation Of Ikorodu Court To Ikeja

The Nigeria Bar Association, Ikorodu branch, in Lagos yesterday decried last week’s relocation of the Ikorodu High Court to Ikeja, saying that it had brought untold hardship to litigants and lawyers.

The Chairman of the branch, Mr Kazeem Adebanjo, told newsmen  in Lagos that the relocation had made litigants to lose interest in prosecuting their cases.

“The relocation has affected our source of livelihood because litigants are no longer interested in prosecuting cases, due to the distance from Ikorodu to Ikeja,’’ he said.

He said that the problem was being compounded by traffic gridlock that characterised the Ikorodu Road.

“This relocation is sending us out of practice little by little. Someone travelling to Ibadan from Ikorodu will get there before those that are moving from Ikorodu to Ikeja will get to their destination,” Adebanjo said.

The Tide source reports that the relocation of the court resulted from the dilapidation of the Ikorodu Local Government building, which temporarily housed the high court.

The court was moved in 2008 to the local government building from the Ikorodu High Court complex, to pave way for the reconstruction of the complex.

The reconstruction had yet to be completed.

Adebanjo said that recently, the local government building vibrated more than three times while the court was sitting, noting that this prompted the chief Judge of Lagos State, justice Inumidun Akande, to direct the relocation.

“The option of using Ikorodu Town Hall was considered but due to the festivities that usually take place there, the judiciary discarded the option.

“It is high time that the construction of the high court complex at Ita Elewa was speeded up,” he urged.

A litigant, Mr Bisi Adejare, said  he was dissatisfied with the relocation to Ikeja which, he said, involved increased transport costs.

“My case was mentioned and adjourned twice before I got to court because I was held in traffic.

“Really, I am so discouraged and don’t think I want to pursue the case further,” he said.

Another litigant, Mrs Bisi Alogba said,” Since I heard about the relocation of the court to Ikeja, I have lost interest in my case because I cannot face the heavy traffic from Ikorodu to Ikeja.