Fire guts Kwara high court complex, destroys documents, others

A courtroom was destroyed in the Kwara State High Court Complex, Ilorin, the state capital after a fire broke out on Sunday night.

An eyewitness account stated that the fire incident occurred shortly after 8 pm on Sunday, completely destroying one courtroom before being brought under control by the State Fire Service.

The Kwara State Fire Service reported that the fire was caused by a power surge in the Government Reserved Area, where the High Court complex is located.

The rubble from the items destroyed in the fire included two air conditioners, a plasma television, a fan, documents, and furniture kept in the courtroom.

Fire Service responder at the affected court room in Kwara
The Kwara State Fire Service, which confirmed the incident, said that the fire affected only Courtroom No. 10, and added that the swift response of the fire service personnel prevented it from spreading to other courtrooms and offices.

A statement by the spokesman for the State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, Head of Media and Publicity, said the quick response of the fire service personnel prevented further damage to the complex, which houses several courtrooms.

“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,” the statement said.

Adekunle mentioned 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 were at the scene, praised the prompt intervention of the firefighters.

He added that the Director of the State Fire Service, Falade John, urged the general public to remain safety-conscious at all times to prevent fire outbreaks.