The Cross River State House of Assembly has called for the establishment of probate registries in the Central and Northern senatorial districts of the state to improve access to justice and ease the burden on residents handling estate matters
The lawmakers proposed that new probate offices be set up in Ikom for the Central Senatorial District and Ogoja for the Northern Senatorial District, in addition to the existing facility in Calabar.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on the decentralisation of probate administration, sponsored by the Member representing Bekwara State Constituency, Charles Omang.
Leading the debate, Omang argued that concentrating probate services in Calabar forces residents from other parts of the state to travel long distances, often at great financial and logistical cost.
He explained that letters of administration, which authorise individuals to manage the estate of deceased persons without a will, are currently processed only at the Probate Department of the High Court in Calabar.
According to him, this arrangement has created hardship for many families who must travel, sometimes without accommodation, to complete the process.
Lawmakers in the Cross River State House of Assembly noted that the situation has led to delays in estate administration, congestion at the Calabar registry, and avoidable stress for bereaved families.
They also expressed concern over the risks involved in long-distance travel, citing cases of accidents involving persons journeying to Calabar for probate-related matters.
The lawmakers further observed that decentralising probate services would reduce pressure on the existing system, improve efficiency, and enhance public confidence in the justice delivery process.
The House accordingly urged the state government, working with the Chief Judge of the state, Akon Ikpeme, to take the necessary administrative and legal steps to establish and operationalise probate registries in the proposed districts.
They maintained that the reform would bring justice closer to the people and ensure faster resolution of estate matters across Cross River State.