President Bola Tinubu has formally approached the Senate with a significant legislative proposal aimed at strengthening Nigeria's judicial system. In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the president seeks amendments to existing laws that would substantially increase the number of judges serving in both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Expanding Judicial Capacity for Modern Demands
The letters, which were read on the Senate floor on Tuesday, January 27, outline specific proposals for judicial expansion. For the Federal High Court, President Tinubu has requested an increase in the statutory number of judges from the current 70 to 90. This represents a significant enhancement of the court's capacity to handle its growing responsibilities.
Addressing National Security and Specialized Legal Areas
In his detailed explanation regarding the Federal High Court Act amendment, President Tinubu noted that Section 1(2) of the Act originally provided for a maximum of 50 judges before being amended in 2005 to increase the number to 70. He emphasized that the court now bears substantial responsibility for prosecuting terrorism-related offences, transnational organized crimes, and other matters directly impacting national security.
The proposed increase from 70 to 90 judges would significantly improve the judge-to-case ratio, enhancing both the speed and quality of adjudication. This expansion would also allow for greater judicial specialization in technically demanding areas including:
- Terrorism cases
- Financial crimes
- Taxation matters
- Intellectual property disputes
- Maritime law cases
"In view of the foregoing, I hereby present the Federal High Court Amendment Bill 2025 and trust that the Senate will consider the passage of the bill expeditiously," President Tinubu stated in his correspondence.
Modernizing the Court of Appeal Structure
For the Court of Appeal, the president's proposal is even more ambitious, seeking to increase the number of justices from 70 to 110. Beyond numerical expansion, the bill aims to clarify the court's judicial structure and seniority system, restructuring provisions related to the ranking of justices.
Introducing Virtual Proceedings and Alternative Dispute Resolution
A particularly notable aspect of the Court of Appeal amendment involves the modernization of court proceedings through the introduction of virtual hearings. The bill provides for the conduct of Court of Appeal proceedings through electronic and audio means, representing a significant step toward digital transformation in Nigeria's judiciary.
Additionally, the legislation proposes the establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (ADRC) that would allow certain appellate matters to be referred for settlement. This innovation aims to improve efficiency in the justice delivery system by providing alternative pathways to resolution.
President Tinubu explained that these amendments would enhance professional efficiency and legal certainty in appellate practice while aligning the court with contemporary legal standards. The proposals also include updates to terminology and definitions to reflect modern judicial processes, including virtual hearings and current correctional nomenclature.
Addressing Systemic Challenges in Justice Delivery
The president emphasized that the proposed amendments are both timely and necessary. He noted they would help address growing demands on the appellate justice system, reduce delays in the administration of justice, strengthen access to justice across the federation, and reinforce public confidence in the judiciary.
Following the reading of the letters, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred both bills to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action. This referral marks the beginning of the parliamentary process that will determine whether these significant judicial reforms become law.
The proposed amendments represent one of the most substantial efforts in recent years to expand Nigeria's judicial capacity and modernize court procedures. If approved, they could significantly impact how justice is administered across the country, particularly in specialized legal areas and through technological innovations in court proceedings.
