Lawmakers Greenlight Proposal To Boost Appeal Court Judge Count To 150

Lawmakers Greenlight Proposal To Boost Appeal Court Judge Count To 150

In a significant move, the House of Representatives has pushed forward a bill aimed at amending the Court of Appeal Act to raise the number of justices from 90 to 150. Spearheaded by Hon. Dr. Patrick Umoh, who represents the Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara federal constituency of Akwa Ibom state, the bill garnered support during the plenary session overseen by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu……...CONTINUE READING

Titled “A bill to amend the Court of Appeal Act, Cap C.36, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to increase the number of justices of the Court and provide for appointment of a minimum of 6 justices in every Judicial division of the Court for speedy and efficient justice delivery and to improve citizens access to justice and related matters,” the proposed legislation aims to address the growing need for expedited justice delivery and enhanced accessibility for citizens.

During the debate on the bill’s general principles, Hon. Umoh highlighted the inadequacy of the current number of justices, which was set at 90 following the 2013 amendment of the Act. He emphasized the rising caseload and the establishment of new divisions such as those in Kano, Gombe, Akwa, and Asaba, which have exacerbated the strain on the appellate court’s resources.

Umoh underscored that the shortage of justices has resulted in delays in the adjudication process, particularly in divisions with substantial caseloads like Abuja and Lagos. He stressed the importance of ensuring a sufficient number of justices to facilitate simultaneous sittings and expedite the resolution of cases.

The proposed amendment seeks to not only enhance the quality and efficiency of judicial decisions but also to alleviate the burden on appellate court justices and extend their professional longevity. By increasing the number of justices and ensuring a minimum of six justices in each judicial division, the bill aims to promote fairness, accessibility, and timeliness in the administration of justice.

The passage of this bill represents a crucial step towards modernizing the judiciary and strengthening the foundations of the justice system to better serve the needs of Nigerian citizens.

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