KATSINA — Courts in Katsina State registered more than 86,000 cases during the last legal year, with the state government announcing plans to digitise court processes, introduce virtual proceedings and improve judicial welfare and infrastructure.
Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar, disclosed the caseload on Tuesday at the opening of the 2026/2027 legal year of the Katsina State High Court of Justice in Katsina.
Presenting the judiciary’s performance report, Abubakar said the High Court registered 3,667 cases and disposed of 2,492, while magistrate courts recorded 22,842 cases and concluded 14,319.
Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar
Shari’ah courts registered 59,291 cases, comprising 45,000 civil and 14,291 criminal matters, and disposed of 40,251 cases.
The Multi-Door Court House handled 1,422 matters, resolving 1,194 through alternative dispute resolution. Another 104 were referred to regular courts, while 124 remained under mediation or conciliation.
Declaring the legal year open at the Justice Umaru Abdullahi Auditorium, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda announced approval for the comprehensive computerisation and digitisation of judicial processes, including virtual court proceedings at the High Court headquarters and its divisions in Funtua, Daura, Malumfashi and Dutsin-Ma.
He also said the installation of solar power systems at the High Court headquarters had commenced to improve electricity supply and court operations.
Radda reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to judicial independence, saying the executive would not interfere with the courts in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
On judicial welfare, he announced that plots of land and special allowances had been provided to High Court judges to support the construction of personal residences. Arrangements were also underway to replace official vehicles due for replacement and provide vehicle loans to magistrates, with plans to extend the scheme to Shari’ah Court judges and Kadis.
The governor said the state had established specialised courts to improve commercial dispute resolution, revenue recovery and environmental protection, including the Small Claims Court, Revenue Court and Forestry Court.
He added that the Katsina State Geographic Information System had instituted more than 100 cases to recover unpaid ground rent, while the Ministry of Justice had compiled cases involving illegal encroachment into forest reserves for prosecution.
Radda also disclosed that amendments had been made to the state’s Penal Code to expressly address and penalise the activities of informants. He said the review and digitisation of state laws and subsidiary legislation were nearing completion.
In his report, the Chief Judge appealed for additional recruitment to address shortages of registrars, court clerks, interpreters and other essential personnel.
He said more than 270 judicial staff had left service between 2018 and July 2026, creating significant manpower gaps. He also called for urgent rehabilitation of the High Court headquarters, which he said had not undergone major renovation since it was commissioned in 2006.
Abubakar highlighted ongoing reforms, including sentencing and remand guidelines, efforts to decongest custodial facilities and the establishment of community conflict resolution centres.
He urged politicians to respect court orders and follow due legal processes, while cautioning media practitioners and social media commentators against prejudicial reporting on cases pending before the courts.
Justice Fadila Mohammed Dikko
Also speaking, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hajiya Fadila Mohammed Dikko, said the ministry had processed 365 case files, received more than 250 files for legal advice and handled over 1,114 applications, including bail requests and originating processes.
She disclosed that approximately 325 civil and criminal cases involving the state remained pending before various courts, while judgments had been obtained in about 53 cases at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court levels.
Dikko added that the state’s four rent tribunals in Katsina, Daura, Funtua and Malumfashi had handled more than 278 cases, of which 224 had been concluded.
She said the ministry had also processed 84 memoranda relating to agreements and legal instruments, alongside legislative proposals, while work continued on digitising state laws and strengthening the electronic case-tracking system.
The ceremony was attended by the Grand Kadi, Chief of Staff Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir, the Secretary to the State Government, Head of the Civil Service Mas’udu Mustapha Banye, members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, judicial officers, Nigerian Bar Association representatives and heads of security agencies.
