Tinubu seeks amendments to Federal High Court, Court of Appeal Acts

By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate resume from its Christmas and New Year break on Tuesday with two bills from President Bola Tinubu seeking to amend the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court Acts.

In the requests contained in two separate letters addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and read at plenary, President Tinubu seek approval to amend the Acts to increase the number of judges, strengthen and to modernise the two levels of the Nigerian judicial system to respond effectively to contemporary developments in Nigeria

For the appellate court, President Tinubu ask the Senate to amend the to increase the number of judges from 70 to 110.

He said the increase will strengthen institutional capacity, efficiency and effectiveness of the appellate court in line with the constitutional provisions and contemporary realities in the justice sector.

“The bill seeks to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110 and judges and clarification of judicial structure and seniority.

He also said the bill also seeks to restructure provisions relating to ranking of justices of the Court of Appeal, including the ranking of the President of the court and the determination of seniority among justices.

He said that the bill proposed the modernisation of the court proceedings through the introduction of virtual court proceedings.

“The bill provides for the conduct of proceedings of the Court of Appeal through electronic and audio, establishment of Alternative Dispute Resolution Center (ADRC).

“The bill seeks to establish an Alternative District Resolution Centre within the Court of Appeal, where appellate matters may be referred for settlement.”

The president said that the bill equally sought to improve professional efficiency and legal certainty in appellate practices.

This, he said, was in alignment with contemporary legal and institutional standards.

“The bill also seeks to update terminology and definitions within the principal act, including the recognition of virtual hearings and modern correctional and nomenclatures.

“It seeks to consolidate interpretative provisions to ensure clarity, consistency and alignment with current legal and institutional framework,” he said.

According to him, the amendments sought are timely and necessary, adding that they respond to growing demands on the appellate justice system to reduce delays in administration of justice.

He said that the amendments would strengthen access to justice for litigants across the federation and reinforce public confidence in the judiciary.

For the Federal High Court, President Tinubu noted that Section 1 (2) of Act Cap F-12 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 originally provided for a maximum of 50 judges.

He, however, said that the number was increased to 70 by its amendment in 2005 and the number remained the current status strength of the court to date.

But the President noted that the court now bears a substantial and expanding responsibility for the prosecution of terrorism-related offenses, transnational organised crimes and other matters touching directly on national security.

“The senate is invited to note that a proposed increase of the Federal High Court judges from 70 to 90 will significantly improve the judge to ration, and enhance the speed and quality of adjudication

“It will allow for greater judicial specialisation in technically demanding areas such as terrorism,financial crimes, taxation, intellectual property and maritime law.

“In view of the foregoing, I hereby present the Federal High Court Amendment Bill 2025 and trust that the senate will consider passage of the bill expeditiously.

After the reading of the letter, Akpabio committed to bills to the Rules and Business Committee for further legislative actions.

(NAN)