President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the Senate seeking to amend the Court of Appeal Act to increase the number of justices from 70 to 110.
The request was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary on Tuesday.
According to President Tinubu, the proposed amendments were aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Court of Appeal in line with constitutional provisions and contemporary realities within the justice sector.
He said the major amendment proposed in the bill was the increase in the number of justices of the Court of Appeal.
“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,” the President stated.
Tinubu explained that the bill also seeks to restructure provisions relating to the ranking of justices of the Court of Appeal, including the ranking of the President of the Court and the determination of seniority among justices.
He further disclosed that the proposed legislation aims to modernise court proceedings through the introduction of virtual hearings.
“The bill provides for the conduct of proceedings of the Court of Appeal through electronic and audio means, and the establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (ADRC),” he said.
According to the President, the bill proposes the creation of an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre within the Court of Appeal, where appellate matters may be referred for settlement.
“The bill seeks to establish an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre within the Court of Appeal, where appellate matters may be referred for settlement,” Tinubu added.
He said the proposed amendment was also designed to improve professional efficiency and legal certainty in appellate practice, in alignment with modern legal and institutional standards.
“The bill also seeks to update terminology and definitions within the principal Act, including the recognition of virtual hearings and modern correctional nomenclature.
“It seeks to consolidate interpretative provisions to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with the current legal and institutional framework,” he said.
President Tinubu noted that the proposed amendments were timely and necessary, as they responded to the growing demands on the appellate justice system.
He said the reforms were expected to reduce delays in the administration of justice, strengthen access to justice for litigants across the federation, and reinforce public confidence in the judiciary.
Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio thereafter referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
