(1) An appeal to the National House against a judgment, decision or an order of a Regional House shall be lodged within thirty days after the date of delivery of the judgment, decision or order appealed against, unless the Regional House or Notional House extends the period for a further period not exceeding thirty days from the date of expiry of the period of appeal.

(2) The National House or a Regional House shall have, in relation to an appeal that comes before it, !he powers of the Traditional Council from which the appeal IS brought,

(3) In the exercise of its judicial power, the National House or a Regional House, shall have the powers, rights and privileges that are vested in the High Court Judge at a trial in respect of

(a) enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation or otherwise, and

(b) compelling the production of documents and the issue of a commission or request to examine witnesses abroad.

(4) Subject to this Act, the practice and procedure of the National House or a Regional House in the exercise of judicial functions shall be regulated by rules made in consultation with the respective House by the Rules of Court Committee.

(5) A member of a Judicial Committee appointed under this Act or the lawyer of (I Judicial Committee is not liable to an action or suit in respect of a matter or thing done by the member or the lawyer in the performance of functions under this Act.

(6) A member of a Judicial Committee or a lawyer of the Committee is in relation to the exercise at a function under this Act a public officer for the purpose of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

(7) A person who does anything in relation to the exercise of the judicial functions of the National House or a Regional House which if done in relation to the High Court will constitute a contempt of that Court commits contempt of that House.

(8) Where It appears to a Judicial Committee that a person has committed contempt of the House of Chiefs, it shall certify that fact to the High Court which, if it is satisfied that the person has committed contempt, shall take steps for the punishment of the person in contempt or shall otherwise acquit that person.

(9) The functions of a lawyer appointed to assist a Judicial Committee is to advise the Committee on matters of law, including in particular, evidence, procedure and interpretation of documents and statutes.