- Tinubu Transmits Bill to Expand Court of Appeal Bench
- Introduce ADR Centre
- Senate President Akpabio has referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve a bill seeking to amend the Court of Appeal Act to increase the number of justices from 70 to 110, as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s appellate justice system.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the request was conveyed in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and read during plenary on Tuesday.
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According to the President, the proposed amendment is designed to enhance the institutional capacity, efficiency and effectiveness of the Court of Appeal in response to rising caseloads and operational demands across the country.
“The bill seeks to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110 and provide clarification of judicial structure and seniority,” Tinubu stated.
He explained that the legislation also seeks to restructure provisions relating to the ranking and seniority of justices, including the position of the President of the Court of Appeal, in line with constitutional requirements and modern judicial practice.
Beyond expanding the bench, Tinubu said the bill introduces technology-driven reforms to modernise appellate proceedings.
“The bill provides for the conduct of proceedings of the Court of Appeal through electronic and audio means, and the establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre,” the President said.
He added that the proposed ADR Centre, to operate within the Court of Appeal, would allow certain appellate matters to be referred for settlement, helping to reduce delays and ease pressure on the court’s docket.
The President further noted that the amendment would update outdated terminology in the principal Act, including formal recognition of virtual hearings and modern correctional language.
“It seeks to consolidate interpretative provisions to ensure clarity, consistency and alignment with the current legal and institutional framework,” Tinubu added.
He said the reforms were timely, given the growing strain on the appellate justice system nationwide, stressing that the measures would improve access to justice, reduce case backlogs and reinforce public confidence in the judiciary.
Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
That proposal, sponsored by Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West), highlighted that despite the appointment of 11 justices in 2023, litigants were still being given hearing dates as far ahead as 2027 and 2028.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has also written to the Senate seeking confirmation of the appointment of Justice Oyewole Kayode as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The request was read at plenary and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for consideration and report.
The move further underscores the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to address capacity constraints and strengthen judicial delivery across Nigeria’s courts.
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