A courtroom in the Kwara State High Court Complex, Ilorin the state capital was completely razed down by fire on Sunday night.
A witness said that the fire incident occurred some minutes after 8.00 PM on Sunday, and completely destroyed one courtroom before it was curtailed by the state Fire Service.
The State Fire Service said that the fire incident was sparked by a power surge which occurred in the government area where the High Court complex was located.
Rubbles of the items destroyed by the fire included two air conditioners, a plasma television, a fan, documents and furniture kept in the courtroom.
Kwara State Fire Service which confirmed the incident said that the fire destroyed only courtroom No. 10, adding that the swift response of the men of the Fire Service prevented it from spreading to other courtrooms and offices.
A statement by the spokesman of the State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, head of Media and Publicity said that the quick response of the men prevented the fire from destroying more property within the complex which houses many 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.”
Adekunle said the special adviser to the state governor on Special Duties, AbdulRazaq Jiddah, and the chief judge of the state, Justice Abiodun Adebara, who was at the scene of the incident, hailed 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.
