Flood takes over Federal High Court, Benin City

The Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State, was flooded to the point of causing obstructions or preventing legal practitioners and judicial officers from assessing the court premises to perform their duties. The flood was majorly caused by the bad roads in the vicinity, like other parts of Edo State, which after harbouring their share of the flood, forced waters to overrun any adjacent space, making the federal high court an unfortunate scene.

It was narrated that lawyers, litigants, judges, including workers in the court have to go through a bushy path to enter the court premises, where the entry and exit gates are also flooded.

The Federal High Court, in Benin City, is located along the Benin-Auchi Road near Aduwawa, in the neighbourhood of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Residents revealed that the perennial flood compelled the Court of Appeal, Benin City, to relocate to the State High Court on Sapele Road. The flood also ejected the INEC from its building in the same location in 2020, and the commission had to rent a building at Sapele Road, Benin City.

The condition of the roads in Edo State was said to be worsening year in year out.