Flood Prevents Mararaba High Court from sitting
…as Lawyers, Litigators, Court Staff stranded
The premises of the Nasarawa State High Court located in Mararaba could not sit on Friday due to heavy flooding, which spread into the court premises making it hard for people to navigate.
This reporter who reached the court premises at about 9.am for the purpose of an affidavit could not access any of the five courts located in the premises due to overnight downpour from the night of Thursday, May 21 to the morning of May 22, 2026.
A senior lawyer and former pioneer secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Mararaba branch now Keffi Branch, Barrister Anthony Onum told Business Africa Digest that the development has prevented the courts located in the premises from sitting as the flood had taken over the entire premises.
In his words: “Mararaba High court Judges couldn’t sit today because of the flood. The entire court premises was covered above the knee level.
According to the lawyer, his case was scheduled to take place by 9am, but until he left at 10:30am, no judge was yet to arrive.
He said: “As at the time I left, no single judge was on seat, because it will almost be impossible for them to come here looking at what is on ground.
“We ended up not taking dates at all as Lawyers and litigants could not access the premises to see the registrar for another date”
Barrister Onum said the flooding resulted from lack of drainage system in the court complex, making it impossible for water to flow.
As if being prophetic about the situation at the High court of Mararaba, the senior lawyer had visited the Chief Registrar of the Nasarawa Judiciary in Lafia, a day before the devastating flood on a different mission, but later updated her of the unhealthy environment of the court premises
Barrister Onum called on the Nasarawa State Government, and the Judiciary to rise up to the occasion and give Mararaba High Court premises a face lift to enable both staff, Lawyers and litigants have a conducive environment to thrive.
