The Jigawa State Judiciary says more than 3,000 cases are currently pending at the Magistrates’ Courts, highlighting growing pressure on the justice system despite efforts to speed up case disposal across the state.

The Chief Judge of Jigawa State and Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission, Justice Umar Sadiq, disclosed this during the 2025 Annual Bar and Bench Meeting held at the Judicial Complex in Dutse.

According to him, the Magistrates’ Courts recorded the highest workload, receiving 5,016 cases in 2025, but were able to dispose of only 2,014 cases, leaving 3,002 cases still pending.

The Chief Judge also revealed that the Lower Shari’a Courts handled the largest volume of cases, receiving 23,877 cases, out of which 20,044 were successfully resolved, while 3,833 cases remain pending.

At the High Court level, 917 cases were filed, with 685 disposed of, leaving 233 cases awaiting determination.
Meanwhile, the Shari’a Court of Appeal recorded 148 cases, disposed of 86, and currently has only two cases pending, reflecting a high disposal rate at the appellate level.

Justice Sadiq described the figures as a sign of both progress and the need for continued reforms to ensure speedy justice.

He commended judges, magistrates, and court officials, as well as the Nigerian Bar Association, Ministry of Justice, Police, Legal Aid Council, and Correctional Service, for their cooperation in improving justice delivery.

Speaking at the meeting, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Bello Abdulkadir Fanini, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the judiciary to ensure efficient and timely dispensation of justice.

On his part, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dutse Branch, Barrister G. H. Umar, called for greater professionalism among lawyers and urged all stakeholders to work together to reduce delays and strengthen judicial independence.

The Bar and Bench Meeting serves as an important platform for justice sector stakeholders to review performance and identify solutions.

With over 30,000 cases handled across various courts in 2025, the Jigawa State Judiciary says it remains committed to improving efficiency, reducing backlog, and ensuring faster access to justice for all citizens.