Senate moves to expand judiciary as caseload overwhelms courts

The Senate began its legislative work on Wednesday to broaden Nigeria’s federal judiciary, giving second reading to two bills that seek to increase the number of judges in the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. The move is aimed at tackling the growing backlog of cases and the delays in delivering justice.

The first bill proposes an amendment to the Federal High Court Act to raise the number of judges, while the second bill seeks to amend the Court of Appeal Act. Among its provisions, the latter would raise the number of justices from 70 to 110 and introduce virtual court proceedings.

During the debate on the Federal High Court amendment, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele explained that the proposal has become essential because the court’s jurisdiction has expanded rapidly and the volume of cases has grown exponentially.

Bamidele noted that the Federal High Court now has exclusive jurisdiction over key areas such as revenue and taxation, banking, aviation, telecommunications, anti‑corruption matters, terrorism financing, oil and gas disputes, and election‑related issues.

“Over the years, the volume of cases before the Federal High Court has increased exponentially. The statutory number of judges has remained inadequate relative to the demands placed on the court,” Bamidele said.

The Senate subsequently granted the bill second reading.

The upper chamber also considered a bill to amend the Court of Appeal Act, Cap C36, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. Presenting the bill, Bamidele explained that it seeks to increase the number of Justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110 and to provide for the integration of virtual court proceedings.

Lawmakers observed that the proposed increase in judicial personnel, combined with technology‑driven proceedings, is expected to reduce delays in hearing appeals and improve access to justice across the country.

After the deliberations, President of the Senate Senator Godswill Akpabio referred both bills to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, instructing the committee to report back to the chamber within four weeks.

If enacted and signed into law, the bills would represent one of the most significant expansions of Nigeria’s federal judiciary in recent years.

Legal practitioners, business groups and civil society organisations have repeatedly called for reforms to address judicial congestion, arguing that it contributes to prolonged commercial disputes, criminal trials and election petitions.