The Senate on Tuesday began legislative action to expand Nigeria’s federal judiciary, as lawmakers advanced two bills seeking to increase the number of judges of the Federal High Court and justices of the Court of Appeal in response to growing case backlogs and delays in the administration of justice.
The bills, which scaled second reading during plenary, were subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative scrutiny and are expected back before the chamber within four weeks.
Leading debate on the first bill, which seeks to amend existing laws to increase the number of judges of the Federal High Court, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the proposal had become necessary due to the expanding responsibilities of the court and the rising volume of cases before it.
He noted that the Federal High Court exercises exclusive jurisdiction over key sectors of the economy and governance, including taxation, banking, aviation, telecommunications, anti-corruption cases, terrorism financing, oil and gas disputes, and election-related matters.
According to him, the growing complexity of these sectors has placed enormous pressure on the court.
“Over the years, the volume of cases before the Federal High Court has increased exponentially. The expansion of economic activities, growth in commercial transactions, advancement in technology, the emergence of cyber crimes, increasing anti-corruption prosecutions and the complexity of modern governance have significantly expanded the workload of the court,” he said.
Bamidele argued that the number of judges currently provided under the law no longer reflects the realities facing the nation’s justice system.
“The statutory number of judges has remained inadequate relative to the demands placed upon the court,” he stated.
He warned that the shortage of judicial officers has contributed to prolonged litigation and delays in the delivery of justice.
The situation, he noted, has resulted in “congestion of court dockets, prolonged delays in hearing and determination of cases, increased cost of litigation to litigants etc.”
Following the debate, the Senate granted the bill a second reading.
The upper chamber also considered a separate bill seeking to amend the Court of Appeal Act to strengthen the capacity of the appellate court and modernise its operations.
Presenting the proposal, Bamidele explained that the legislation would increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110 and introduce provisions for virtual court proceedings.
“A bill for an act to amend the Court of Appeal Act Cap C36 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 to, among other things increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from seventy to one hundred and ten, provide for integration of virtual court proceedings and for related matters, 2026, second reading taken,” he said.
Lawmakers observed that increasing the number of judicial officers, alongside the adoption of technology-driven proceedings, would help reduce delays in hearing appeals and improve access to justice nationwide.
The introduction of virtual hearings is also expected to bring appellate court procedures in line with global best practices while reducing logistical challenges associated with physical court appearances.
After deliberations, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, referred both bills to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for detailed consideration.
“Both bills are hereby referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to report back to the Senate in four weeks,” Akpabio ruled.
If eventually passed and signed into law, the measures would mark one of the most significant expansions of Nigeria’s federal judiciary in recent years.
Legal practitioners and stakeholders have long argued that inadequate judicial manpower remains a major factor behind delays in the resolution of commercial disputes, criminal trials, election petitions and other matters before the courts.
Supporters of the proposed legislation believe the reforms will strengthen the efficiency of the judiciary, reduce case congestion and improve public confidence in the justice system.
The Senate’s action comes amid increasing calls for reforms to ensure faster and more effective justice delivery across the country. The bills will now undergo detailed committee review before returning to the Senate for further consideration.
