Tinubu Seeks to Boost Court of Appeal Justices to 110, Introduce Virtual Hearings in Amendment Bill

By Emmanuel Kwada

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President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a major reform bill to the Senate aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s appellate justice system by increasing the number of Court of Appeal justices from 70 to 110 and incorporating provisions for virtual hearings.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s letter transmitting the Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill, 2026, during plenary on Tuesday.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Court of Appeal Act to address mounting caseloads, reduce judicial delays, and enhance overall efficiency in line with modern justice sector demands.

According to the president’s letter, the bill would expand the bench—including the President of the Court of Appeal—to 110 justices to better handle the growing volume of appellate matters across the federation.

It also includes restructuring provisions on the composition, precedence, and ranking of justices, clarifying seniority and the position of the court’s president.

Tinubu emphasized that the amendments are intended to “strengthen the institutional capacity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Court of Appeal” while aligning with constitutional requirements and contemporary realities.

The changes aim to minimize delays in justice delivery, improve access for litigants nationwide, and bolster public confidence in the judiciary.

Additional reforms in the bill empower the President of the Court of Appeal to issue regulations and practice directions for the court’s operations. It also allows appropriate appellate matters to be referred to a settlement centre, with guidelines for effective implementation.

The inclusion of virtual hearings is designed to modernize proceedings, making the appellate process more accessible and adaptable, particularly in a post-pandemic era where technology has become integral to legal practice.

This move forms part of broader judicial reforms under the Tinubu administration, following earlier efforts to enhance judicial welfare and infrastructure. The bill now awaits debate and consideration by the Senate before proceeding to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

Stakeholders have yet to publicly react in detail, but the proposal is expected to spark discussions on judicial capacity, funding implications, and the pace of justice delivery in Nigeria’s appellate courts.