105 Cases get second chance as Kogi CJ orders review

The Chief Judge.of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Josiah Majebi, has handed over 105 cases to Appeal panels of the High Court of Justice to redress dissatisfaction from cases handled by lower courts for the first quarter of the year 2026. Justice Majebi disclosed this while inaugurating the 9 Appeal panels yesterday at the state judiciary […]

The Chief Judge.of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Josiah Majebi, has handed over 105 cases to Appeal panels of the High Court of Justice to redress dissatisfaction from cases handled by lower courts for the first quarter of the year 2026.

Justice Majebi disclosed this while inaugurating the 9 Appeal panels yesterday at the state judiciary headquarters, Lokoja.

He said the move is aimed at providing further avenue for dissatisfied litigants at the lower courts to have their cases reviewed.

Justice Majebi noted that the panels have been mandated to attend to cases emanating from lower courts across the state in the Appeal Session, from Monday to Friday of every week to ensure quick dispensation of justice .

The inauguration of the panel is the first in the quarterly Appeal Sessions usually held by the state’s High Court of Justice since assumption of office of Justice Majebi.

Justice Majebi says: “the first session being inaugurated for the year would hear a combination of 105 cases from courts around the state.

“The Judges sitting in all the nine panels at different locations in the state have proven their mettles in the dispensation of justice . They would do Justice to the combination of the 105 cases before them fairly without fear or favour”.

According to him, the 9 panels being inaugurated to review criminal and civil cases from lower courts are to sit in Lokoja, Okene, Ankpa, Idah, Anyigba and Kabba division respectively .

Justice Majebi added that himself and Hon. Justice Angelina Salihu separately head cases from Lokoja, Koton-karfi and Ajaokuta in Lokoja division that record 22 cases, made up of 10 criminal and 12 civil cases

While CJ stressed that Okene division headed by Hon. Justice Etsu Umar will handle cases from Obangede, Ebogogo and Ihima with 10 cases, he said Ankpa division with two panels separately, and headed by Hon. Justices Salihu Zubayr and Ruth Alfa will treat cases from Abejukolo and Okpo respectively.

He said: “Idah division has two panels with 10 criminal and eight civil cases before it. Hon. Justices Moses Gwatana and Yahaya Adamu head each of the panels that will attend to appeal cases from Ugualawo and Ajaka.

“Anyigba division has three criminal cases and eight civil cases with the panel being headed by Hon. Justice Abubakar Hussain. “It hears appeal cases from Dekina and Bassa

“The Kabba division has 14 cases – 10 criminal and 4 civil – before it. It is headed by Hon. Justice Salisu Umar .The panel will hear appeals from Egbe, Isanlu, Mopa and Iyara lower courts.

Justice Majebi appreciated both the Bench and the Bar in the state, urging members of the Bar ,in particular to ensure physical presence throughout the period of the session

Speaking on behalf of the Bar, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the state Ministry of Justice, Iye Idama Esq., appreciated the state judiciary for creating avenue for litigants who are dissatisfied with the decisions of the lower courts to gain access for redress.

She assured the state judiciary that lawyers in the state would always leverage on the opportunity, to benefit both citizens and residents in the state, pledging that lawyers appearing before the panels would keep to the rules of the court throughout the duration of the session