Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar | Katsina Times
Katsina State courts registered more than 86,000 cases during the 2025/2026 legal year, with the Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar, calling for more judicial staff to address manpower shortages.
Justice Abubakar disclosed this on Tuesday during the opening of the 2026/2027 legal year of the Katsina State High Court of Justice.
He said the High Court registered 3,667 cases and disposed of 2,492, while magistrate courts recorded 22,842 cases and concluded 14,319.
According to him, 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, while 124 remained under mediation or conciliation.
The Chief Judge said more than 270 judicial staff had left service between 2018 and July 2026, creating shortages of registrars, court clerks, interpreters and other personnel.
He also called for the rehabilitation of the High Court headquarters, which he said had not undergone major renovation since its commissioning in 2006.
Speaking at the event, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda announced plans to digitise court processes, introduce virtual proceedings and install solar power systems at the High Court headquarters.
He said virtual hearings would be introduced at the headquarters and court divisions in Funtua, Daura, Malumfashi and Dutsin-Ma to improve efficiency and reduce delays.
Radda reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to judicial independence, adding that residential plots and special allowances had been provided for High Court judges.
He said arrangements were also underway to replace official vehicles due for replacement and introduce vehicle loans for magistrates, with plans to extend the scheme to Shari’ah Court judges and Kadis.
The governor said the state had established specialised courts, including the Small Claims Court, Revenue Court and Forestry Court, to handle commercial disputes, revenue recovery and cases involving forest reserves.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hajiya Fadila Mohammed Dikko, said the ministry had processed 365 case files and received more than 250 files for legal advice.
She added 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 said the ministry would continue working with the judiciary, legislature, security agencies and other stakeholders to strengthen justice delivery and protect residents’ rights.
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