President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve a bill to amend the Court of Appeal Act, increasing the number of justices from 70 to 110, as part of reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s appellate justice system.
The request was sent in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary on Tuesday.
According to the President, the proposed amendments are intended to enhance the institutional capacity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Court of Appeal in line with constitutional provisions and emerging realities within the justice sector.
He said the central feature of the bill is the expansion of the court’s bench to cope with rising caseloads and operational pressures. “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.
The President explained that the legislation also seeks to restructure provisions relating to the ranking of justices of the Court of Appeal, including the position of the President of the Court and the determination of seniority among serving justices.
In addition, Tinubu disclosed that the bill introduces measures to modernise appellate proceedings through the use of technology. Meanwhile, President Tinubu has also written to the Senate seeking confirmation of the appointment of Justice Oyewole Kayode as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The request, read at plenary by Akpabio, was referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for consideration and report.
The confirmation request further underscores ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to ease capacity constraints and strengthen judicial delivery across Nigeria’s courts.
