President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to consider a bill proposing an increase in the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s appellate justice system.
The request was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and read during plenary on Tuesday.
According to the President, the proposed amendment to the Court of Appeal Act is aimed at improving the court’s capacity, efficiency and overall effectiveness in line with constitutional requirements and current realities within the judiciary.
Tinubu explained that the growing volume of cases before the Court of Appeal has placed significant pressure on the existing number of justices, necessitating an expansion of the bench.
“The bill seeks to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110 and to clarify issues relating to the court’s structure and the seniority of its justices,” the President stated.
He added that the proposed legislation would also review provisions governing the ranking of justices, including the position of the President of the Court of Appeal and how seniority is determined among serving justices.
Beyond increasing personnel, Tinubu said the bill introduces reforms to modernise appellate proceedings through the adoption of technology. These include provisions for electronic and audio hearings, as well as the establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre within the Court of Appeal.
According to him, the ADR Centre would allow certain appellate matters to be referred for settlement, thereby reducing delays and easing the court’s workload.
The President noted that the amendment would also update outdated terminology, recognise virtual hearings, and harmonise interpretative provisions to align with current legal and institutional frameworks.
He said the proposed reforms are timely, given the mounting pressure on Nigeria’s appellate courts, and would help improve access to justice, reduce delays and boost public confidence in the judiciary.
Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
The development comes amid broader concerns over congestion in Nigeria’s superior courts. Last year, the Senate considered a separate proposal to increase the number of Supreme Court justices in response to a growing backlog of cases at the apex court.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has also requested Senate confirmation of the appointment of Justice Oyewole Kayode as a Justice of the Supreme Court. The request was referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for consideration.
