Abia State Court System
The Abia State Judiciary is the 3rd arm of the Government of Abia State constitutionally vested with the power to interpret, construe, and apply the law.
The Judiciary in Abia State constitutes a system of courts, which comprises the followings:
1-High Court,
2-Customary Court of Appeal,
3-Magistrate Courts and
4-Customary Courts.
These courts through their respective Judges and Magistrates perform the adjudicating functions imposed by the constitution and the relevant laws creating them.
Constitutionally the High Court of Abia State subject to some provisions of the constitution has the jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil proceedings in which the existence or extent of a legal right, power, duty, liability, privilege, interest, obligation, or claim is in issue or to hear and determine any criminal proceedings involving or relating to any penalty, forfeiture, punishment or other liability in respect of an offense committed by any person. These proceedings also include proceedings about its original, appellate, or supervisory jurisdiction.
The Magistrate court also has such civil and criminal jurisdiction as provided under the law creating it. In Abia State, quite several cases are filed every day. The Magistrate Courts dispose summarily of about 80% of these cases while the High Court handles about 20%, which constitute the most delicate and complex matters.
The functions of the Judiciary are carried out in different spheres. While some are adjudicatory, others are administrative and they are executed with the assistance of Court employees or attachees for effective justice delivery.
Presently in Abia State, there are 23 serving Judges of the High Court, 17 Judicial Divisions, and 28 Magisterial Districts also exist in the State.
For the effective delivery of Justice, the current, 7th substantive Chief Judge of Abia State, Honourable Justice Lilian Abai having acted from December till May 2023 was sworn in on the 5th day of May 2023.
The Chief Registrar of the High Court of Abia State is the Head of Administration, Chief Accounting Officer, Probate Registrar, Sheriff, and Official Receiver. Other Principal Officers are the Deputy Chief Registrars in the Umuahia Division and the Director of Finance & Accounts.
