Author: Gist Correspondent

The Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Court of Appeal Act and increase the number of Justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110 as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s justice system and reduce case backlog.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), was debated during plenary on Tuesday.

Leading the debate, Bamidele said the amendment is designed to enhance the administration of justice by expanding the court’s capacity, modernising its operations, improving access to justice, and providing a legal framework for virtual court proceedings.

He noted that the Court of Appeal occupies a critical position within Nigeria’s judicial hierarchy but has come under increasing pressure due to a surge in appeals arising from population growth, economic expansion, electoral disputes, constitutional matters, commercial transactions, and other forms of litigation.

According to him, while the volume and complexity of cases have continued to rise, the institutional capacity of the court has not expanded at a corresponding rate, creating operational challenges that require urgent legislative intervention.

Bamidele argued that increasing the number of appellate justices would help improve efficiency, speed up the determination of cases, and make the judiciary more responsive to the needs of a rapidly evolving society.

He described the bill as a timely reform that addresses longstanding structural and operational constraints facing the Court of Appeal, while also positioning the institution to meet contemporary judicial demands.

The lawmaker added that the proposed amendments would strengthen judicial capacity, improve appellate adjudication, and support democratic governance through a more effective justice delivery system.

Following the debate, the Senate overwhelmingly supported the bill and approved its second reading.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently referred the legislation to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative scrutiny and stakeholder engagement.

The committee was mandated to report back to the Senate as soon as practicable.

Akpabio expressed optimism that the proposed increase in the number of appellate justices would help decongest the Court of Appeal and accelerate the dispensation of justice across the country.

He stressed that delays in resolving legal disputes undermine public confidence in the justice system, reiterating the principle that “justice delayed is justice denied.”