President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting amendments to existing laws to expand the number of judges in the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read on the Senate floor on Tuesday, January 27, Tinubu proposed amendments to the Federal High Court Act and the Court of Appeal Act.
Under the proposed changes, the statutory number of judges in the Federal High Court would rise from 70 to 90, while the number of justices in the Court of Appeal would increase from 70 to 110.
In his letter regarding the Federal High Court, Tinubu noted that Section 1(2) of the Act initially allowed a maximum of 50 judges before it was amended in 2005 to 70—the court’s current strength. He said the increase is needed due to the court’s expanding responsibilities, including handling terrorism-related offences, transnational crimes, and other national security matters.
“Raising the number of judges from 70 to 90 will significantly improve the judge-to-case ratio and enhance the speed and quality of adjudication,” Tinubu said. He added that it would also allow for greater judicial specialization in complex areas such as terrorism, financial crimes, taxation, intellectual property, and maritime law.
On the Court of Appeal, Tinubu explained that the amendment would not only increase the number of justices from 70 to 110 but also clarify the court’s structure and seniority system. The bill proposes restructuring provisions on the ranking of justices, including the role of the President of the Court of Appeal.
The amendment also seeks to modernize appellate procedures by allowing virtual hearings and establishing an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (ADRC) to resolve certain cases more efficiently. According to Tinubu, these reforms aim to improve professional efficiency, reduce delays, strengthen access to justice nationwide, and enhance public confidence in the judiciary.
“The proposed amendments are timely and necessary to address growing demands on the appellate justice system, improve the administration of justice, and align the courts with contemporary legal standards,” Tinubu said.
Following the reading of the letters, Senate President Akpabio referred the bills to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative consideration.