SENATE PROPOSES INCREASE IN FEDERAL HIGH COURT, APPEAL COURT JUDGES TO SPEED UP JUSTICE DELIVERY

SENATE PROPOSES INCREASE IN FEDERAL HIGH COURT, APPEAL COURT JUDGES TO SPEED UP JUSTICE DELIVERY

The Senate has advanced two key judicial reform bills seeking to increase the number of judges of the Federal High Court and justices of the Court of Appeal as part of efforts to improve justice delivery and reduce the growing backlog of cases across Nigeria.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, passed second reading during plenary and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further consideration.

According to lawmakers, the reforms are aimed at strengthening the capacity of the judiciary to handle increasing workloads resulting from expanding economic activities, technological developments, electoral disputes, and complex commercial litigation.

Leading the debate, Bamidele said the judiciary remains a critical arm of government that requires adequate support to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

He noted that the Federal High Court plays a central role in Nigeria’s legal system, with exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving taxation, customs, banking, aviation, telecommunications, immigration, intellectual property, money laundering, terrorism financing, oil and gas operations, and certain electoral cases.

According to the Senate Leader, the court’s workload has grown significantly in recent years, leading to congested case dockets, delays in hearings, and increased litigation costs for individuals and businesses.

To address these challenges, the bill proposes increasing the number of Federal High Court judges from 70 to 90.

Bamidele said the expansion would help reduce case backlogs, improve access to justice, strengthen anti-corruption prosecutions, and boost investor confidence by ensuring faster resolution of legal disputes.

He described the proposal as a strategic intervention designed to equip the court with the capacity required to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving nation.

Supporting the bill, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno said the Federal High Court has consistently advocated for an increase in the number of judges due to its expanding jurisdiction and growing caseload.

He stressed the importance of timely justice delivery, noting that delays in judicial processes can undermine public confidence in the legal system.

In a related development, the Senate also considered a separate bill seeking to increase the number of justices at the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110.

Bamidele explained that the Court of Appeal occupies a vital position within Nigeria’s judicial hierarchy but has become increasingly overstretched due to the rising volume of appeals from courts and tribunals across the federation.

He said the increasing number of electoral disputes, commercial cases, institutional litigation, and other appeals has placed significant pressure on the court, resulting in delays in hearing and determining cases.

The proposed legislation seeks not only to expand the number of appellate justices but also to modernize judicial processes through the integration of virtual court proceedings.

According to the Senate Leader, the inclusion of virtual hearings reflects global best practices that gained wider acceptance during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, offering greater efficiency and accessibility in judicial administration.

The bill also proposes the establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre within the Court of Appeal to encourage amicable settlement of disputes and reduce congestion in the court system.

Lawmakers believe the initiative could help parties resolve certain matters more efficiently while reducing the burden on the judiciary.

Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, who supported the bill, said increasing the number of justices would improve the overall output of the Court of Appeal and contribute to faster dispensation of justice.

He also suggested that similar reforms may be required in other levels of the judiciary to ensure the legal system can effectively respond to growing demands.

If eventually passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and signed into law, the reforms are expected to strengthen judicial efficiency, improve access to justice, and support broader efforts to modernize Nigeria’s legal system.