Case Backlog: Senate’s Bill Increasing Appeal Court Bench From 70 to 110 Scales Second Reading

 The legislative move is designed to tackle a growing backlog of cases and eliminate prolonged delays in the delivery of justice.

The proposed legislations passed second reading during plenary and were referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further consideration.

Opening debate on the bill seeking to amend provisions relating to the Federal High Court, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the existing number of judges had become insufficient in view of the court’s expanding responsibilities and mounting caseload.

He explained that the court handles matters that are critical to national governance and economic activities.

“Over the years, the volume of cases before the Federal High Court has increased exponentially.

“The expansion of economic activities, growth in commercial transactions, advancement in technology, the emergence of cyber crimes, increasing anti-corruption prosecutions and the complexity of modern governance have significantly expanded the workload of the court,” he said.

According to him, the number of judges currently provided by law no longer corresponds with the realities confronting the justice sector.

“The statutory number of judges has remained inadequate relative to the demands placed upon the court,” he stated.

He added that the shortage of judges has contributed to delays in the hearing and determination of cases across the country.

The Senate subsequently approved the bill for second reading.

Lawmakers also considered a separate bill seeking amendments to the Court of Appeal Act to enhance the capacity of the appellate court and improve its operations through technology.

While presenting the proposal, Bamidele said the legislation seeks to raise the number of Court of Appeal justices from 70 to 110 and provide a legal framework for virtual proceedings.

“A bill for an act to amend the Court of Appeal Act Cap C36 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 to, among other things increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from seventy to one hundred and ten, provide for integration of virtual court proceedings and for related matters, 2026, second reading taken,” he said.

Senators observed that expanding the bench and introducing technology-driven processes would help accelerate the hearing of appeals and improve access to justice.

They also noted that virtual proceedings would align the operations of the appellate court with evolving global judicial practices while easing logistical challenges associated with physical appearances.

At the conclusion of deliberations, President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, directed that both bills be forwarded to the relevant committee for detailed legislative work.

“Both bills are hereby referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to report back to the Senate in four weeks,” Akpabio ruled.

If enacted, the proposed measures would represent one of the most significant efforts in recent years to expand the capacity of Nigeria’s federal courts.

Stakeholders in the justice sector have repeatedly identified inadequate judicial manpower as a major cause of delays in the resolution of commercial disputes, criminal matters, election petitions and other cases.

The reforms could improve efficiency within the judiciary, reduce case backlogs and strengthen public confidence in the administration of justice.