Senate Approves Bills to Increase Federal High Court, Appeal Court Judges

The Senate has passed two major judicial reform bills aimed at increasing the number of judges of the Federal High Court and expanding the strength of the Court of Appeal in a move designed to tackle delays in Nigeria's justice system.

The bills, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, scaled legislative scrutiny during plenary and received overwhelming support from lawmakers.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently announced their passage before referring both measures to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative processing.

Leading debate on the proposed amendments, Bamidele said the reforms were necessary to strengthen the administration of justice and address the growing burden on Nigeria's courts.

He stressed that the effectiveness of any democratic system depends largely on the ability of citizens and institutions to obtain timely judicial decisions.

“The essence of every judicial system is to ensure the timely and effective administration of justice because justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.

According to him, the workload of the Federal High Court has expanded dramatically over the years due to increasing economic activities, cybercrime prosecutions, anti-corruption cases, technological advancements and the complexity of modern governance.

Despite these developments, he noted that the number of judges has remained largely unchanged, contributing to court congestion and lengthy delays in case determination.

Beyond increasing judicial manpower, the proposed legislation also seeks to modernise the country's appellate system.

One of the most significant provisions of the Court of Appeal amendment bill is the introduction of virtual court proceedings.

The proposal will allow appellate hearings to be conducted electronically in accordance with court rules, a practice that gained global acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The legislation also seeks to establish an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre within the Court of Appeal to encourage amicable settlement of disputes and reduce pressure on the judiciary.

Bamidele argued that the reforms would improve efficiency, enhance public confidence in the courts and ensure wider national representation within the appellate system.

Legal experts have long warned that Nigeria's courts are struggling under the weight of rising litigation, with many civil and criminal matters taking years before final determination.

If fully enacted, the reforms are expected to reduce case backlogs, accelerate dispute resolution, lower litigation costs and improve access to justice across the country.