Presentation Of Cross River Customary Court Of Appeal Rules 2024 Marks Milestone In Justice System

Hon. Justice Akon B. Ikpeme (CRS Chief Judge/ Chairman, CRS Judicial Service Commission) takes a picture with the Rules drafting committee members from l-r: Nkechi Usani, Chief Registrar CRS CCA and Committee Secretary; Eteng Okoi, Esq. (Member, Rep. NBA Ikom); Hon. Justice Felix Ititim (Member, Rep. CRS CCA); Hon. Justice Sampson M. Anjor (Hon. President, CRS CCA/ Chairman, CCA Rules Drafting Committee); Ededem C. Ani, Esq. (Member and Hon. Attorney-General/ Commissioner for Justice, Cross River State); Hon. Justice Imelda B. Etape Member, Rep. CRS High Court); Eni Okoi Esq. (Member, Rep. NBA Calabar)

The Cross River State Customary Court of Appeal (CCA) on Thursday, July 24, 2025, held the public presentation of its 2024 Rules. The event, which took place at the court premises, marked a major step in establishing a robust procedural framework for the recently inaugurated appellate court.

The formal ceremony opened with a welcome address delivered by the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice S.M. Anjor. In his speech, Justice Anjor thanked God, the State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu and other dignitaries for their presence and support.

Justice Anjor traced the CCA rules’ journey back to January 2022, when the Customary Court of Appeal was formally created, and the first set of judges were sworn in. These pioneer judges included A.A. Obo, F. I. Ititim, E.O. Dada, and A. J. Arong. Hon. Justice Maurice Eneji was the pioneer president, succeeded by Hon. Justice S. M. Anjor, first in an acting capacity and later as substantive president.

According to Justice Anjor, the absence of court-specific rules initially forced the court to rely on High Court and Court of Appeal rules. However, Section 59 of the Customary Court of Appeal Law No. 9 of 2014 (as amended), and Section 284 of the 1999 Constitution empowered the court to create its own rules.

A Rules Committee was thus established in May 2024, composed of justices, members of the Bar, and court officers. The committee was chaired by Justice Anjor himself and held several plenary sessions. They reviewed rules from other jurisdictions, including Abuja, Rivers, Benue, Ebonyi, and Delta, before developing the CCA Rules for Cross River State.

The unveiling of the CCA Rules 2024 was performed during the ceremony, with remarks from the Honourable Attorney General of Cross River State, Mr Ededem Ani. He expressed pride in being part of the drafting process and affirmed that the presentation of the court’s first procedural document would greatly improve justice delivery in the state.

Committee members included Hon. Justices Imelda Etape and Felix Ititim; Ededem C. Ani, the Cross River State Attorney General; Eni Okoi, Esq. (NBA Calabar), Okoi Eteng, Esq. (NBA Ikom), Lazarus Izabi-Undie (NBA Ogoja), and Nkechi Usani, the Chief Registrar of the Customary Court of Appeal and Rules Drafting Committee Secretary.

Other dignitaries at the event included the Honourable Chief Judge and Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission, Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme; NBA Calabar Chairman, Enome Amatey, Esq; and senior lawyers, Essien H. Andrew, SAN, and Mba Ukweni, SAN; a Member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Omang Charles Omang (KSM) and representatives of the Obong of Calabar, Ndidem of the Quas and the Muri of the Efuts.

The Chief Registrar of the court, Mrs Nkechi Usani delivered the vote of thanks, closing the historic event on a note of appreciation and optimism.

The launch of the 2024 CCA rules represents a defining moment for customary jurisprudence in Cross River State and is expected to enhance court efficiency and legal clarity.