The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reacted to the Monday morning fire that engulfed a side of the judges’ chamber of the apex court.
According to Festus Akande, the court’s public relations officer, the fire started in one of the chambers of the justices and was caused by an electrical fault. Akande said that the fire was put out using fire extinguishers and that no casualties were reported.
Recall ChannelsTV reported that the fire started around 6 a.m. Cleaners on duty and workers who had arrived early for work detected the fire and raised the alarm. They were able to extinguish the fire before it spread further.
The fire damaged three offices, including that of Justice Mohammed Saulawa. The damage’s extent is unknown, but Akande said that the court is still operational.
The Herald recalls that the fire comes as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi head to the apex court to challenge the election victory of President Bola Tinubu.
The fire is also a reminder of the infrastructure challenges facing Nigeria. The country’s public buildings are often dilapidated and poorly maintained, and fires are not uncommon.