President Bola Tinubu has urged the Senate to approve a bill amending the Court of Appeal Act to increase the number of justices from 70 to 110, as part of broader reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s appellate justice system.
The appeal was made in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read at plenary on Tuesday. According to Tinubu, the amendment aims to enhance the Court of Appeal’s capacity, efficiency, and effectiveness in line with constitutional provisions and evolving needs within the justice sector.
“The bill seeks to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110 and provide clarification of judicial structure and seniority,” Tinubu stated. He explained that the legislation also restructures provisions relating to the ranking of justices, including the position of the Court’s President and determination of seniority among serving justices.
The proposed law further introduces measures to modernise appellate proceedings through technology, including electronic and audio hearings. Additionally, it seeks to establish an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre within the Court of Appeal, enabling certain appellate matters to be referred for settlement.
“The bill seeks to establish an ADR Centre within the Court of Appeal, where appellate matters may be referred for settlement,” Tinubu added, noting that the reforms would improve professional efficiency, legal certainty, and public confidence in the judiciary.
The President also highlighted updates to terminology and definitions in the Act, including recognition of virtual hearings and modern correctional nomenclature, to align with the current legal and institutional framework.
Following the letter’s reading, Senate President Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further action.
The request comes amid ongoing concerns over workload pressures in Nigeria’s superior courts. Last year, the Senate considered a separate proposal to expand the Supreme Court bench to 30 justices to address the growing backlog of cases, with some hearings scheduled as far ahead as 2027 and 2028.
In a related development, Tinubu also wrote to the Senate seeking confirmation of Justice Oyewole Kayode as a Justice of the Supreme Court, with the request referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for consideration.
These steps underscore the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen judicial capacity and improve delivery across Nigeria’s courts.