President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to approve a major expansion of Nigeria’s appellate and trial courts, proposing the appointment of 200 additional judges to the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court.
The move is aimed at boosting judicial capacity, reducing delays in the administration of justice, and strengthening the courts to cope with increasingly complex cases linked to security, economic regulation, and federal governance.
Details Of The Proposal
The request is contained in two separate amendment bills transmitted to the upper chamber and read during plenary on Tuesday by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as lawmakers resumed legislative activities after the Christmas and New Year recess.
Under the proposals:
- The Court of Appeal Act, 2004, is to be amended to increase the number of justices from 70 to 110
- The Federal High Court Act, 2004, is to be amended to raise the number of judges from 70 to 90
If approved, the reforms would represent one of the most significant judicial expansions in recent years.
Why The Expansion Is Needed
According to President Tinubu, the proposed increase has become necessary due to the rising workload of the courts and the emergence of specialised and complex areas of litigation.
These include:
- Terrorism and national security-related cases
- Taxation and financial crimes
- Regulatory and commercial disputes
- Other evolving aspects of federal jurisdiction
The President noted that existing judicial capacity is increasingly overstretched, leading to delays that undermine public confidence in the justice system.
Court Of Appeal Modernisation Pla
Beyond increasing the number of justices, the proposed amendment to the Court of Appeal Act also seeks to modernise court operations.
The bill provides for:
- Electronic and visual transmission of court proceedings
- Updated terminologies to reflect contemporary judicial practices
- Improved efficiency in case management and appellate review
The Presidency said these reforms are designed to align Nigeria’s appellate system with global best practices and improve access to justice.
Federal High Court Pressure Points
On the Federal High Court, President Tinubu explained that the court was originally established with 50 judges, a number increased to 70 in 2009.
However, he said recent developments in governance, security challenges, and economic regulation have significantly expanded the court’s responsibilities.
The proposed increase to 90 judges, the President stated, would:
- Reduce case backlogs
- Speed up adjudication
- Ensure better handling of technically demanding cases
- Improve overall efficiency in federal judicial processes
Supreme Court Nomination
In a related development, President Tinubu also forwarded the name of Oyewole Joseph to the Senate for confirmation as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The Senate is expected to subject both the bills and the judicial nomination to legislative scrutiny in line with its constitutional mandate.
What Happens Next
The proposed amendments will be referred to relevant Senate committees for consideration, public hearings, and recommendations before final passage.
If approved, the reforms are expected to have a far-reaching impact on Nigeria’s justice delivery system, particularly in tackling delays and improving judicial efficiency nationwide.
