Delta High Court Commences Virtual Sitting

The Delta State Judiciary has commenced virtual sitting in Asaba, the state capital.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Diai, kick-started the first Virtual Court hearing at High Court 1, Asaba, the state capital with personal injury case.

In the Suit, with No. A/176/2018, involving Mrs. Chika M. Orji and Akwa Ibom Transport Company Limited and others, which had commenced in Asaba Judicial Division of the High Court of Justice on Friday, with the aid of technology, the Claimant, Mrs. Chika Orji was able to testify from the comfort of her home in Lagos State, via remote Hearing (Zoom).

The claimant was unable to come down to Asaba as a result of injuries sustained in a road traffic accident that left her incapacitated, resulting to the delay of the matter.

The claimant testified as if she was physically present in the open court, led by her counsel, Mr. Caleb Onwe, where she identified and adopted her written statement on oath and also identified the documents referred to in her written statement remotely before they were admitted in evidence.

Upon the conclusion of her evidence in-Chief, the counsel for the 1st Defendant, Goodnews Njoku, on Friday cross-examined the Claimant with the conclusion of the testimony of the Claimant.

The matter was then adjourned for Defence to open as the entire session took less than an hour.

This feat was, however, made possible through the Information Technology innovation introduced under the leadership of the Delta State Chief Judge, justice dial.

“There is in the court a 50 inch smart TV, which enabled the participants in the court to view the claimant while giving her testimony. There is also a laptop used by the system administrator to store materials for the case and a desktop (all-in-one) used by the presiding Judge.

“At least, eight witnesses were admitted in the first session and able to watch history being made first-hand” the judge said.