The Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Sikas Agya, has designated High Court 9 as a family court to handle cases related to domestic and child welfare issues.
Justice Agya made the announcement on Monday during an advocacy visit by the first lady of the state, Mrs Agyin Kefas, to the state judiciary headquarters in Jalingo.
He stated that the newly designated court would have jurisdiction over various family-related matters, including, divorce, child abuse, neglect and juvenile delinquency.
According to the chief judge, the court’s primary objective is to protect the best interest of children in all cases brought before it.
He highlighted the alarming statistics on sexual abuse, noting that 30 percent of girls and women aged 15 to 49 in Nigeria have experienced some form of sexual violence.
Justice Agya emphasized that the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2014 which serves as the primary legislation on such matters, has been domesticated in the state to strengthen legal protection for victims.
He also outlined some of his recent judicial reforms, including the introduction of e-proceeding and e-filing, the establishment of a small claim court, and the renovation of court buildings and judges residence.
On her part, the first lady urged the judiciary to establish mechanisms for the speedy trial of offenders involved in sexual and gender based violence.
She also expressed concern over the rising cases of child rights violations and gender-based violence in the state and pledged her support in collaborating with the judiciary to tackle the issue.