The Senate on Wednesday moved to increase the number of judges in the Court of Appeal from the existing 70 to 110.
The move, according to the upper legislative chamber, is aimed at tackling backlog of cases in the appealate court.
It’s also aimed at expanding the capacity of Nigeria’s federal judiciary to address delays in the justice system.
The proposed legislation, which came through two bills, also seeks to increase the number of judges of the Federal High Court to a number yet to be determined.
Both bills were referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, which is expected to report back within four weeks.
Leading the debate, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said the Federal High Court’s growing workload had made an increase in judicial manpower imperative.
He noted that the court has exclusive jurisdiction over key areas, including taxation, banking, aviation, telecommunications, anti-corruption cases, terrorism financing, oil and gas disputes, and election-related matters.
According to him, the rapid expansion of economic activities, technological advancement, cybercrime, and increasing corruption prosecutions have significantly increased the court’s caseload, while the number of judges has remained inadequate.
“The volume of cases before the Federal High Court has increased exponentially, resulting in congestion of court dockets and delays in the hearing and determination of cases,” Bamidele said.
The Senate also considered a bill seeking the integration of virtual court proceedings to enhance efficiency in justice delivery.
Lawmakers said the measures would help speed up the hearing of appeals, reduce delays, and improve access to justice, while aligning court processes with global best practices.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, referred the bills to the judiciary committee for further legislative work.
If passed and signed into law, the measures would mark one of the most significant expansions of Nigeria’s federal judiciary in recent years.
(The Whistler)
