Small Claims Court

The Small Claims Court is a specialized court with specific duties and powers. It is a judicial intervention for the speedy determination and resolution of disputes involving small amounts of money. Small Claims Court procedure is significant for economic expediency, speed and simplicity.

The Small Claims Court has a long history in debt collection and has often been called informally as the ‘people’s court’. All over the world, Small Claims Courts are institutions which have limited jurisdiction to hear civil cases between litigants. The evolution of the Small Claims Court is traceable to the Small County or Magistrates’ Courts in medieval England, which were popularly referred to as ‘Court of Pie-powders’. Some of the countries where Small Claims Courts exist include: Australia, Brazil, Canada, England and Wales, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kenya, Israel, New Zealand, Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, the United States, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

The need to enhance the business environment through a more effective commercial disputes resolution mechanism caused the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to partner with State Judiciaries for the setting up and operationalization of Small Claims Court. The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has supported some states in establishing Small Claims Courts. The Small Claims Court provides easy access to an informal, inexpensive and speedy resolution of debt recovery matters in the Magistrates’ Court.

The Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State, Honourable Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, DSSRS did, on the 4^th day of November 2022 set the stage ready for the establishment of Small Claims Court in Rivers State with the inauguration of the Judicial Committee on Small Claims Court. The Rivers State Judicial Committee on Small Claims Court has its membership as follows:

1. Justice Constance Douye Green – Chairman
2. Justice Mark O. Chuku – Member
3. His Worship David D. Ihua-Maduenyi – Chief Registrar, High Court- Member
4. His Worship Amadi O. Amadi-Nna – Member
5. His Worship Blessings Vic-Jumbo – Secretary
6. His Worship Collins G. Ali – Member
7. Wobisike G. Arige, Esq. – Acting Registrar.

The Judicial Committee upon its inauguration worked assiduously under the guidance of PEBEC to have the Hand Book and Practice Direction which provides the legal framework for the operation of the Small Claims Court in Rivers State. Consequently, the Hon. Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, DSSRS, the prolific Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State having signed the RIVERS STATE SMALL CLAIMS COURT PRACTICE DIRECTION 2023 into law, proceeded to inaugurate the Rivers State Small Claims Court on the 7^th February, 2023 with PEBEC on hand to provide technical support for the training of personnel for immediate take off of the court.

There are presently in operation, five (5) Small Claims Courts within the Port Harcourt Magisterial District; and one (1) each at the Choba Magisterial District, Elimgbu Magisterial District, Rumuodomanya Magisterial District and Rumuepirikom Magisterial District; making up a total of nine (9) Small Claims Courts manned by trained Magistrates. There are also three (3) Appellate High Courts.

The Small Claims Court has brought in a new dynamics into the judicial process of small claims and liquidated money recovery in Rivers State. It is easily accessible, cost effective, less technical and guarantees speedy disposal of cases within 60 days of commencement at the Magistrate Court level and within 30 days at the Appeal Court level. The Small Claims Court is a sure game changer and booster for the business community, particularly the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises as enforcement of contract is more secure. The general public is therefore encouraged to take all monetary claims not exceeding Five Million Naira (N5,000,000.00) to any nearby Small Claims Court in Rivers State; there is a Small Claims Court just close to you!

For more inquiry send a mail to: rs.smallclaimscourt@gmail.com