Senate Moves To Expand Court of Appeal To 110 Justices, Boost Federal High Court Strength
The Nigerian Senate has begun moves to expand the number of Justices serving at the Court of Appeal, increasing them from 70 to 110, as part of broader reforms aimed at addressing rising pressure on the country’s judiciary.
The proposal is contained in a bill currently before the upper legislative chamber and was sponsored by the Senate leadership as part of efforts to improve the speed and efficiency of justice delivery in Nigeria.
Alongside the Court of Appeal expansion, the Senate is also considering a related amendment to increase the number of Federal High Court judges from 70 to 90, citing an overwhelming increase in the volume and complexity of cases before both courts.
Lawmakers say the reforms have become necessary due to growing population, increased commercial activities, electoral disputes, constitutional matters and a steady rise in criminal and financial cases that pass through the courts.
The Court of Appeal, which serves as the main appellate court between trial courts and the Supreme Court, currently handles appeals from various judicial bodies including federal and state high courts, election tribunals and specialised courts.
Senators argue that the current number of justices is no longer sufficient to cope with the workload, leading to delays in the hearing and conclusion of important cases across the country.
If the bill is eventually passed into law, it will significantly increase the capacity of the appellate court system and is expected to reduce case backlog while improving access to justice.
The proposed expansion has also been linked to wider judicial reform plans being discussed at the National Assembly, which include measures to improve court efficiency and strengthen Nigeria’s legal system.
The bill has been referred to relevant Senate committees for further legislative scrutiny before any final decision is made.
For now, the proposal remains under consideration as lawmakers continue deliberations on how best to restructure and strengthen the country’s courts.