President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a bill to the Senate proposing changes to the Court of Appeal Act, including an increase in the number of justices from 70 to 110.
Gatekeepers News reports that the request was read at plenary on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In the letter, Tinubu explained that the amendment is intended to improve the capacity and performance of the Court of Appeal in line with constitutional requirements and present realities in the justice system.
“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 said.
According to Tinubu, the bill also addresses the ranking of justices, including the position of the president of the court of appeal and how seniority among justices is determined. He said the changes are meant to remove ambiguities and improve internal administration within the appellate court.
The president added that the amendment introduces virtual hearings as part of efforts to modernise court proceedings and reduce delays. He said the bill also provides for the creation of an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre within the court of appeal to allow some appellate cases to be resolved outside the traditional courtroom process.
“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),” Tinubu said.
“The bill seeks to establish an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre within the Court of Appeal, where appellate matters may be referred for settlement.”
Tinubu said the proposed reforms would improve efficiency, promote legal certainty, and align appellate practice with modern institutional standards.
He noted that the bill also updates terms and definitions in the existing law to reflect current practices, including virtual hearings and modern correctional language.
“The bill also seeks to update terminology and definitions within the principal Act, including the recognition of virtual hearings and modern correctional nomenclature,” he said.
“It seeks to consolidate interpretative provisions to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with the current legal and institutional framework.”
The president said the amendment has become necessary due to the increasing workload at the court of appeal and is expected to speed up the delivery of justice, improve access to the courts, and strengthen public confidence in the judiciary.
Tinubu also sent a separate bill to the Senate seeking to amend the Federal High Court Act to raise the number of judges from 70 to 90, citing similar workload pressures.
In addition, he requested Senate confirmation of the appointment of Oyewole Joseph Kayode as a justice of the Supreme Court.
After the letters were read, Akpabio referred the bills and the nomination to the Senate committee on rules and business for further legislative consideration.
