Section 153 Child’s Right Act

Section 153 Child’s Right Act 2003 is about Family Court at the Magistrate Court level. It is under Part XIII (The Family Court) of the Act.

(1) The Court at the Magisterial level shall consist of such number of‐
(a) Magistrates, not below the rank of Chief magistrate ; and
(b) assessors, who shall be officers not below the rank of Senior Child Development Officer, as shall enable the Court to effectively perform its functions under this Act.

(2) The members of the Court at the Magisterial level shall be appointed by the Chief Judge of the State and in the case of the Federal capital Territory, Abuja, the Chief Judge of the High Court.

(3) The Court at the Magisterial level shall be duly constituted if it consists of‐
(a) a Magistrate;
(b) two assessors, one of whom shall be a woman and the other person who has attributes of dealing with children and matters relating to children, preferably in the area of child psychology education,

(4) The Court at the Magisterial level has power to try offences and deal with all matters not specifically assigned to the Court at the High Court level under Section 152 of this Act.

(5) Appeals lie to the Court at the High Court level from a decision of the Court at the Magisterial level in the same manner as appeals lie from the decisions of Magistrates Courts to the High Court of the
State.