The Court of Appeal marked its Golden Jubilee with a special commemorative sitting at the Port Harcourt Division, coupled with the official commissioning of a new Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre in the Rivers State capital.
The event, part of nationwide activities celebrating 50 years of the appellate court, underscores a renewed push for faster, more accessible justice through alternative mechanisms that ease the burden on formal litigation.
Following the development, all courts in Rivers State — including the High Court, Magistrates’ Courts and other inferior courts — have shut down operations from Monday, February 16 to Friday, February 20, 2026, following a directive approved by the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi.
A notice issued by the Rivers State Judiciary explained that the one-week suspension is necessary to avoid scheduling conflicts and allow full participation in two major initiatives taking place simultaneously.
Top of the list is the deployment of special panels constituted by the President of the Court of Appeal to tackle a massive backlog of appeals at the Port Harcourt Division.
The panels commenced sitting in the city yesterday February 16 2026 and some are utilising existing facilities in the division as part of a broader decongestion drive aimed at clearing long-pending cases.
At the same time, the state judiciary has scheduled a compulsory week-long Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training programme for Honourable Judges, Magistrates, Registrars, Legal Assistants, and Research Assistants across Rivers State.
The temporary closure is a deliberate strategic move to prioritise backlog clearance and digital capacity-building without disruptions.
The Chief Judge’s office reiterated its unwavering commitment to efficient justice delivery and urged lawyers, litigants, and members of the public to take note of the pause in activities.
Affected parties are advised to watch out for any further directives from the registry as normal court sittings are expected to resume on Monday, February 23, 2026.
