About Us
Delta State Judiciary
Vision
To be an independent, transparent, and efficient judiciary that upholds the Rule of Law and ensures equal access to justice.
Mission
To deliver fair, timely, and transparent justice through an independent judiciary, ensuring equal access, accountability, and excellence in judicial service.
Goals & Objectives
- Establish and maintain an independent judiciary that guarantees the Rule of Law and equal access to justice.
- Deliver effective, timely, and efficient administration of justice across all court levels.
- Cultivate public trust through transparency, fairness, and accessibility in all judicial processes.
- Promote a zero-tolerance stance on corruption within the judicial system.
- Ensure the proper use of judicial resources with accountability at all levels.
- Strengthen collaboration with justice sector stakeholders for better service delivery.
- Invest in cutting-edge technology to enhance case management and court operations.
- Provide a conducive and supportive work environment for judicial and non- judicial staff.
History
The Delta State Customary Court of Appeal was established as an independent arm of the Judiciary in the defunct Bendel State in 1983 by the then Bendel Sute House of Assembly, bur became funcdonal in 1984. With the creation of Delta State out of the defunct Bendel State in 1991, the Customary Court of Appeal was one of the institutions that came over to the state from Benin City. Not long after the commencement of the activities, the Delta Statc Customary Court of Appen was abolished. Upon the intervention of well meaning Nigerians, especially the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Bendel State as he then was, Hon. Justice I. O. Aluyi and other notable Deltans, the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal was restored.
This was pursuant to a law to establish in the Delta State of Nigeria a Customary Court of Appeal and for other matters therein. Assented to by His Excellency, the Governor of Delta Stare, Olorogun Felix O. Ibru on the 11th of January 1993 with commencement date of 2nd January, 1992, thus repealing the Customary Court of Appeal (Abolition) Edict 1991.
The said law was formally enacted by the Delta State House of Assembly in 1992 and published in Delta State Extra-ordinary Gazette No. 2, VoL 3 of 13h January 1993. The Law provided for the Customary Court of Appeal at the apex, with supervisory attention over Area Customary and District Customary Courts. Appeals from Area and District Customary Courts flow directly to the Customary Court of Appeal. The Area Customary Courts are presided over by Lawyers with at least seven years post call experience, assisted by two Lay-Judges, while the District Customary Counts arc presided over by Lawyers with five years’ post-call experience and also assisted by nvo other Lay-Judges. These Lay-Judges must possess a minimum of first degree in any field of study.
They may also be persons who had retired from public service. In addition, they must be versed and knowledgeable in the customs and traditions of the area of jurisdiction of the Court.
Over the decades, Lawyers who presided over Area and District Customary Courts were addressed as presidents in the Court, but with the amended Customary Courts Law 2019, which came into effect on 17th May, 2019, the presiding judge is to be addressed as “Chairman” in Accordance with section 10 of the Law.
As far back as 2012 the appointment of Lay-Judges to preside over District Customary Courts surceased and gradually phased out. Presently, only lawyers are appointed as Chairmen of District Customary Courts.
The Area Customary Courts are located in the Local Government headquarters, while the District Customary Courts are located in other towns within the Local Government Currently, there arc one hundred and six (106) Customary Courts across the State. These comprise of two Customary Courts of Appeal in Asaba and Warri respectively, forty-one Area Customary Courts and sixty-three District Customary Courts. There are at least to District Customary Courts in each of the nventy-five Local Government Areas in the Sute.
In January 22, 2002, Customary Court of Appeal Warri was created. This timely decision was apt in order to alleviate expenses on litigants who are outside the State capital and its environs, that necessitate long travels to Asaba to attend court sessions for cases. Thus, further enhancing the speedy delivery of justice.