All Notices Of Appeal Filed Without Follow-up Should Be Thrown Out – Appeal Court President

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, on Monday, instructed presiding judges of the 20 divisions of the appellate court to throw out appeals that have not been followed through by litigants.

She stated this in Abuja while setting up seven special panels saddled with the responsibility of decongesting the backlog of appeals before the court’s divisions.

Dongban-Mensem told the meeting that the special panels became a necessity in view of the lingering appeals clustering the court.

“The Court of Appeal cannot be used as a tool in the hands of these litigants who go into a deep slumber.

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“All notices of appeal filed without being followed with other processes to ensure quick prosecution and disposal of the appeal should be shown the way out,” the justice said.

Speaking further, she added: “We have sufficient provisions in our rules, which are backed by constitutional provision for the disposal of matters in court.”

The Appeal Court president noted that since presiding justices were heads of the divisions, they can go ahead and take charge and keep up with the tempo in their various jurisdictions.

“In a nation with teeming unemployed graduates and restive youths, we must do our part to create jobs by ensuring that all appeals are heard expeditiously, especially those which involve corporate bodies and businesses which can provide jobs for our youths,” she said.