The Neglect of the Magistracy and Judiciary in Cross River State

The Neglect of the Magistracy and Judiciary in Cross River State:

I was saddened when I read in the Leadership Newspaper edition of 3 February 2026, with the blazing headline: “Magistrates in Cross River State plan to resume an indefinite strike from Monday, February 9, 2026, over the state government’s failure to address their welfare and security-related demands.”

I strongly support the government of Cross River State in addressing the teething problems of the Magistrates structurally, vertically, horizontally, administratively, and comprehensively, as the judiciary as a whole has not received the attention it deserves. The government must immediately and promptly engage in dialogue with the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter, to avert this strike action, which would undoubtedly disrupt the administration of justice at that level.

The magistracy is an important rung in the administration of justice, as the bulk of criminal cases and small claims civil matters at the grassroots level are handled by Magistrates. Sadly, the magistracy has suffered benign neglect at the hands of successive governments in the State, particularly concerning welfare issues, conditions of service, and the deterioration of magistrate court structures across the 18 Local Government Areas. Many of these court buildings were erected during the colonial period and have never enjoyed any facelift since independence, through the military era, and even into the present dispensation.

For instance, around 2010, the Chief Magistrate Court building in Ugep (originally built in the 1950s as a District Court) was gutted by fire and razed to the ground. Shockingly, the building remained in that state for almost eight years until 2018, when members of the Nigerian Bar Association in Ugep appealed to me to restore it, as the Chief Magistrate Court had no venue for daily proceedings. I personally invested millions of Naira to restore the building to its present state after the government had done absolutely nothing to rehabilitate it during those eight years of neglect.

Recently, I was informed by members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikom Branch, of their resolve to raise money to renovate the High Court building in Ikom, Ikom Local Government Area. They even added me to a WhatsApp platform they created to drive this fundraising quest. I was deeply surprised at how low things have deteriorated, to the extent that the renovation of such an important structure of State authority is left to non‑State actors. This is one of the indices by which a failing State is judged—when non‑State actors take the front burner in performing roles that should ordinarily be the responsibility of government.

This example illustrates the terrible condition of the magistracy and the judiciary as a whole. The Government of Cross River State must declare a state of emergency concerning the Magistracy and even the High Court of Justice. The last time the High Court enjoyed any appreciable physical development was during the tenure of Brigadier General Jacob Udoaka Eusene, nearly fifty years ago, when he was Military Governor of the old Cross River State. Since then, successive governments have done virtually nothing to improve the physical infrastructure of the High Court.

Recently, in December 2025, I had a matter in the High Court of Justice, Effraya Judicial Division, in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State. I was saddened, outraged, and flummoxed by the deplorable condition of the High Court building and its surrounding environment. I wondered aloud how anyone could expect judges and litigants alike to operate in such a derelict environment and still dispense and receive justice.

Conclusion:
The judiciary, particularly the magistracy, is the backbone of grassroots justice delivery. Its neglect undermines the rule of law and erodes public confidence in governance. The government of Cross River State must act decisively, declare a judicial emergency, and prioritize the welfare, infrastructure, and dignity of the magistracy and the High Court. Justice cannot thrive in ruins.

@ Okoi Obono-Obla