Delta State High Court Commences Virtual Hearing
The Delta State High Court has commenced virtual hearing of matters before the court. The state Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Diai, kick-started the first virtual hearing at High Court 1, Asaba, the state capital with a 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 travel to Asaba as a result of injuries sustained in a road traffic accident that left her incapacitated, resulting in 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. 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 also cross-examined the Claimant remotely. The matter was then adjourned for the Defence to open its case. In all, the entire session took less than an hour.
The virtual hearing was made possible through the Information Technology innovation introduced under the leadership of the Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Diai.
“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.
