The Senate has passed for second reading two bills seeking to increase the number of judges in Nigeria’s superior courts as part of efforts to reduce case backlogs and improve the delivery of justice across the country.
The proposed legislation aims to raise the number of judges of the Federal High Court from 70 to 90 and increase the number of Justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110.
Leading the debate during plenary, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who sponsored the bills, said the proposed amendments were designed to strengthen the judiciary’s capacity to handle the growing volume of cases before the courts.
According to him, a functional democracy depends on the ability of citizens and institutions to obtain timely judicial resolution of disputes.
He stressed that the justice sector must be adequately equipped with the human and material resources required to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
Speaking on the proposed amendment to the Court of Appeal Act 2004, Bamidele described the Court of Appeal as a critical institution within the judicial system, serving as the intermediary appellate court between trial courts and the Supreme Court.
He said the bill seeks to increase the number of justices on the court from 70 to 110, ensure equitable representation of all states and the Federal Capital Territory, clarify issues relating to seniority and ranking among justices, strengthen administrative functions, and enhance the efficiency of appellate adjudication.
The Senate Leader also argued that increasing the number of judges at the Federal High Court would help reduce the backlog of pending cases, improve access to justice through faster hearings and judgments, strengthen the prosecution of corruption and financial crimes, and boost investor confidence through the speedy resolution of commercial disputes.
He added that the expansion would improve adjudication in specialised areas including banking, telecommunications, maritime affairs, aviation, and intellectual property.
The bills received overwhelming support from lawmakers during the debate, with no opposition recorded.
Following their passage for second reading, the Senate referred the consolidated bills to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative consideration. The committee is expected to submit its report within four weeks.
