President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally written to the Senate, urging lawmakers to consider an amendment to the Court of Appeal Act to raise the number of justices of the appellate court from 70 to 110.

In a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President transmitted the proposed bill on Tuesday during plenary as legislators resumed sitting following the end-of-year recess.

Details of the Proposal

According to the communication, the proposed amendment aims to strengthen the institutional capacity, efficiency and effectiveness of the Court of Appeal in line with constitutional provisions and contemporary demands on the judiciary.

Under the draft legislation:

• The number of justices of the Court of Appeal would be increased from 70 to 110, enabling the court to cope with a growing caseload.

• The bill seeks to clarify judicial structure and seniority rules for justices.

• It also introduces provisions for the modernisation of appellate procedures, including the conduct of proceedings through virtual hearings and the establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (ADRC) within the appellate court system.

President Tinubu noted that the reforms are designed to improve professional efficiency, legal certainty and access to justice, reduce delays, and reinforce public confidence in the judiciary.

Rationale Behind the Reforms

The President’s letter highlighted increasing workloads across the appellate judiciary as one of the key reasons for the proposed expansion. The move is intended to allow the Court of Appeal to sit in more divisions simultaneously and handle matters more expeditiously.

The introduction of virtual hearings, in particular, is framed as part of broader efforts to align Nigeria’s judicial process with modern institutional standards and contemporary realities in legal practice.

Next Steps in the Legislative Process

After being read on the Senate floor by Senator Akpabio, the bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action. The committee is expected to list the bill on the Senate Order Paper for first reading and subsequent debate.

If approved by the Senate, the Court of Appeal Amendment Bill will proceed through the standard legislative process, including committee review and possibly public hearings, before final passage.

Broader Judicial Reform Agenda

Alongside the Court of Appeal proposal, President Tinubu has also forwarded a bill to amend the Federal High Court Act, seeking to increase the number of judges from 70 to 90 to strengthen judicial capacity at that level.

Additionally, the President has requested the Senate’s confirmation of a nominee for the Supreme Court bench, further signalling a push to enhance the judiciary’s manpower and performance.