Documents, electronics burnt as fire guts Kwara state high courtroom

A courtroom within the Kwara State High Court Complex in Ilorin, the state capital, was completely destroyed by a fire on Sunday night, as reported by Channels Television.

An eyewitness informed the reporter that the fire broke out shortly after 8:00 PM and entirely consumed one courtroom before being contained by the state Fire Service.

According to the Kwara State Fire Service, the fire was triggered by a power surge in the government area where the High Court complex is situated.

The items lost in the blaze included two air conditioners, a plasma television, a fan, documents, and furniture stored in the courtroom.

The Fire Service confirmed that only Courtroom No. 10 was affected. The swift response of firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to other courtrooms and offices.

Hassan Adekunle, head of Media and Publicity for the Kwara State Fire Service, issued a statement praising the timely intervention of the fire service, which averted further damage to the complex.

“On Sunday, 29th September 2024, at approximately 08:02 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded swiftly to a fire outbreak at the High Court in Ilorin. The fire truck, along with its crew, promptly left the station to mitigate the unfolding incident.

“Upon arrival at the scene, where the court premises house numerous courtrooms and offices, the fire had already engulfed courtroom No. 10 and was poised to spread to adjacent courtrooms. Undeterred by the escalating situation, the brave firemen immediately sprang into action, successfully containing the fire and saving the Ilorin High Court from significant damage.

“Investigations revealed that the fire originated from a standing air conditioner due to a power surge”, according to the statement.

Adekunle noted that the Special Adviser to the state governor on Special Duties, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Jiddah, and the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Abiodun Adebara, who both visited the scene, commended the swift response of the firefighters.

He further stated that the Director of the State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, urged the public to maintain a high level of safety awareness to prevent future fire incidents.