President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, has said the Court of Appeal is primarily an appellate court which hears appeals from some specified courts and tribunals in the country.

She said the expansion of the Court of Appeal across the country was aimed at reducing difficulties associated with long distant travels to courts and justice delays due to court congestion.She stated this on Thursday in Gombe at the inauguration of the Appeal Court in the state.

Bulkachuwa said the long distance from Gombe, Yobe and Borno states to the Jos division of the Court of Appeal necessitated the establishment of the Gombe division.

This, she added, was “to bring justice closer to the people.”

She appreciated the Gombe State Government for its support towards the speedy realization of the Court of Appeal division in Gombe.

After the inauguration, Governor Inuwa Yahaya and other dignitaries witnessed the maiden session of the Appeal Court, presided over by Justice Bulkachuwa.

The President of the Court of Appeal had earlier led presiding justices of various divisions of the Court of Appeal and other judges on a courtesy visit to Yahaya at the Government House, where both leaders discussed matters of mutual benefit.

During the visit, the governor presented the title documents of the permanent site of the Appeal Court to Justice Bulkachuwa.

Yahaya said the new Court of Appeal division would promote faster adjudication of judicial matters and increase access to justice.

He noted that since its establishment in 1976, the Court of Appeal had continued to serve as an intermediary and appellate tribunals between the Supreme Court and the lower courts.