Lagos Small Claims Court Forms Explained (SCA 1 to 9B)

The Lagos Small Claims Court uses numbered forms, SCA 1 to SCA 9B, printed in the appendix to the Lagos State Practice Direction on Small Claims 2023. You need only three to start a claim: the letter of demand (SCA 1), the complaint form (SCA 2) and the summons (SCA 3). Here is what every form is for, who completes it, and when.

Which forms start a claim?

These are completed by the claimant, the person owed the money:

• Form SCA 1: Letter of demand. Served on the debtor before you go to court. It states the sum owed and gives fourteen (14) days to pay before a summons is issued. Serving it is a condition for bringing a claim (Article 2(1)).
• Form SCA 2: Small Claims Complaint Form. The claim itself (Article 2(2)): your details and the debtor’s, the sum claimed with interest, costs and other sums, and a summary of the complaint and the steps you have taken. Attach copies of your documents.
• Form SCA 3: Summons. Issued by the registry once your claim qualifies (Article 2(3)). It tells the debtor when to appear and how to respond, and is served within 7 days of filing.
• Form SCA 3A: Application for summary judgment. Optional. File it with the claim if you believe the debtor has no defence (Article 3(1)).
• Form SCA 3B: Affidavit in support of summary judgment. Your sworn statement of why there is no defence, sworn before the Commissioner for Oaths at the registry (Article 3(2)).

Which forms does the debtor use?

• Form SCA 5: Admission, defence and counterclaim. The debtor’s answer to the claim (Article 7(1)), filed within the time stated in the summons.
• Form SCA 5A: Counter-affidavit. Used by a debtor who opposes an application for summary judgment, filed with Form SCA 5 (Article 7(2)).

Which forms deal with service?

• Form SCA 4: Affidavit of non-service. Filed if the Sheriff could not serve the debtor in time (Article 6).
• Form SCA 6: Affidavit of service. Filed within 2 days of serving the debtor (Article 6).
• Form SCA 7: Application for substituted service. Made by the claimant when the debtor cannot be served personally (Article 6).

Which forms are for appeals and enforcement?

• Form SCA 8A: Motion for leave to appeal. Asks the Small Claims Court for permission to appeal its judgment, as the Magistrates’ Courts Law requires (Article 15).
• Form SCA 8B: Notice of appeal. Filed within 14 days of judgment; the appeal goes to the Fast Track Court of the Lagos High Court (Article 15).
• Form SCA 9A: Application for a garnishee order. Asks the court to attach money the debtor holds with a bank or other third party, to pay the judgment.
• Form SCA 9B: Affidavit in support of the garnishee application. Names the bank or third party and gives the particulars of the funds.

Where do you get the forms?

The forms are printed in the appendix to the Lagos State Practice Direction on Small Claims 2023, issued by the Chief Judge of Lagos State. The registry of the Small Claims Court can also give them to you.

Pandas LP fills in Forms SCA 2, 3, 3A and 3B from the facts of your case, exactly as printed, and a licensed practitioner reviews them before you sign and file. Start your claim.

For the steps in order, read how to recover debt through the Lagos Small Claims Court. For deadlines, see the Lagos Small Claims Court rules for businesses.

Source: Lagos State Practice Direction on Small Claims 2023 (copy with PEBEC edits, December 2025), Articles 2 to 7 and 15, and the appendix of forms.