President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to amend the Court of Appeal Act to increase the number of justices from 70 to 110, as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s appellate justice system and reduce growing pressure on the courts.
The proposed amendment also provides for virtual hearings and the establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre within the Court of Appeal.
The move has drawn mixed reactions from stakeholders in the legal community.
Speaking on ARISE TV, Opatola Victor, a legal practitioner, described the move as a welcome development but noted that its impact would be multi-layered.
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He said that expanding the number of justices at the Court of Appeal would help ensure that cases at the appellate level are dispensed with quickly and that justice is served in a timely manner, but stressed that the measure alone would not be sufficient to achieve the kind of judicial system Nigeria envisions.
According to him, the development of a country’s legal system is closely tied to its economic growth, citing scholarly research that links efficient justice delivery to national prosperity.
He noted that while increasing the number of justices at the Court of Appeal could help reduce delays, it would also likely result in a higher volume of cases reaching the Supreme Court, thereby necessitating a corresponding increase in the number of justices at the apex court.
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According to him, Nigeria’s aspiration to become a trillion-dollar economy would remain difficult to achieve without a strong and efficient judicial system, as investors prioritise jurisdictions where commercial disputes are resolved quickly and fairly.
Victor further emphasised the need for financial independence for the judiciary, arguing that judges should be funded directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund rather than rely on political authorities, a situation he said could compromise judicial independence.
He explained that public trust in the justice system is built on the perception of true and impartial judicial dispensation, which, he said, is directly linked to the financial autonomy of the courts.
The lawyer also proposed the decentralisation of the Supreme Court into regional divisions as a way to ensure faster access to justice and reduce delays in the determination of cases.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
