By Stephen Simon
The Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Court of Appeal Act and increase the number of Justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110 as part of efforts to strengthen the administration of justice in the country.
The proposed legislation, titled the Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was presented at plenary by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, who outlined its objectives and urged lawmakers to support the measure.
Leading the debate, Bamidele said the amendment was designed to address growing pressures on the appellate court by expanding its capacity, modernising its operations and improving access to justice. He noted that the bill also seeks to provide a legal framework for the integration of virtual court proceedings.
According to him, the Court of Appeal occupies a critical position in Nigeria’s judicial system but has witnessed a significant increase in caseloads over the years due to population growth, rising commercial activities, electoral disputes, constitutional matters and increased demand for judicial remedies.
The Senate Leader expressed concern that the court’s institutional capacity had not grown in line with the increasing volume and complexity of cases before it, resulting in the need for urgent legislative intervention.
He said the proposed reforms would enhance judicial efficiency, strengthen the appellate system and ensure that the court remains responsive to the realities of a rapidly changing society.
Bamidele further argued that an effective appellate court system is essential for national development, democratic governance and the promotion of the rule of law, adding that the bill would help tackle longstanding structural and operational challenges facing the court.
Following its second reading, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative consideration and directed the panel to report back to the chamber as soon as practicable. Akpabio said the amendment, if passed into law, would help decongest the Court of Appeal and accelerate the delivery of justice, stressing that “justice delayed is justice denied.”
