House of Representatives resolved on Thursday to call on the Federal Government to appoint new judges for the Supreme Court to ensure effective justice delivery in the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that the resolution of the House followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Patrick Umoh, the lawmaker representing Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State.
In the motion tagged ‘Urgent need for the Federal Government to appoint new justices to the Supreme Court to ensure expeditious and effective justice delivery in the country’, Umoh noted that, “The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the apex court in the country with the jurisdiction to hear and determine causes and matters across the length and breadth of Nigeria.”
In its resolution, the House urged, “The Federal Government to appoint nine new justices to the Supreme Court in order to expedite the hearing and determination of matters for effective and efficient justice delivery in Nigeria.”
It also mandated its Committee on Federal Judiciary to ensure compliance with the resolution.
Umoh had before the House resolution noted, “That the current number of justices of the apex court has dropped to all-time low of 11 Justices, making it 10 justices short of its full complement of 21 justices, as stipulated by the Constitution.”
The House also noted that, “This is post-election season where the court has to hear and determine electoral matters from different parts of the country within a short period of time as mandated by the Constitution.
“Aware that the Supreme Court’s docket is full for the year 2023 as parties cannot have hearing date for matters filed within the year, except in election petitions, owing to a considerable volume of matters pending before the court.
“Worried that the non-appointment of new justices to the Supreme Court has stalled expeditious, effective and efficient justice delivery; impeded transactions and economic development; limited citizen’s access to justice; put the current Justices of the court under immense mental and physical pressure; and has affected the policy-making function of the court;
“Commended the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his promise to promote the rule of law and support the judiciary, and his signing into the law the constitutional alteration unifying the retirement age and pension benefits of the judicial officers.”
