Bill to Increase Number of Appeal Court Judges Passes Second Reading

A bill aimed at amending the Court of Appeal Act to boost its complement of justices from 90 to 150 successfully passed through its second reading at the House of Representatives on Thursday.

The House also proposed the appointment of a minimum of six justices in each judicial division of the Court of Appeal to expedite and enhance justice delivery.

Sponsored by Patrick Umoh, representing Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, the bill received approval during the plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

Titled “A bill to amend the Court of Appeal Act, Cap C.36, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to increase the number of justices of the Court and provide for appointment of a minimum of 6 justices in every Judicial division of the Court for speedy and efficient justice delivery and to improve citizens access to justice and related matters,” the bill aims to address the escalating workload and ensure equitable access to justice.

During the debate on the bill’s general principles, Umoh underscored that the existing legislation, as amended in 2005 and 2013, had fixed the number of justices at 70 and 90 respectively. However, the recent establishment of new divisions of the Court necessitated a review of the judicial capacity.

Umoh highlighted the burgeoning caseload and the necessity for additional judicial personnel to maintain efficiency in adjudication, particularly at the appellate level. He emphasized the need for each division to have sufficient justices to facilitate simultaneous hearings and expedite case resolutions.

The lawmaker further noted that inadequate staffing also impacts the timely disposal of cases, particularly in divisions such as Abuja and Lagos, where the caseload is substantial. He stressed the importance of addressing these deficiencies to streamline the judicial process and mitigate delays in justice delivery, especially concerning matters like Election Appeal Tribunals, where the same pool of justices from the Court of Appeal is often utilized, exacerbating the backlog of cases.