Court of Appeal Sends 40 Justices to Lagos to Tackle 360 Backlogged Appeals

The Court of Appeal has deployed 40 Justices to Lagos for a special sitting designed to reduce the growing backlog of appeals, with no fewer than 360 cases slated for hearing by 16 panels constituted for the exercise.

Speaking at the commencement of the special session on Monday, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, said the initiative underscored the court’s resolve to strengthen efficiency and speed in the delivery of justice.

“Today’s sitting reflects the court’s deliberate and sustained commitment to enhancing efficiency in the administration of justice by addressing the growing volume of appeals across its divisions,” she said.

Justice Dongban-Mensem noted that Lagos, being Nigeria’s commercial hub, naturally attracts a high volume of litigation, placing immense pressure on the appellate system.

“It has become timely and necessary for the court to take proactive measures to be conscious of the docket of appeals,” she added.

She disclosed that 16 panels were constituted for the special sitting, comprising 40 Justices drawn from different divisions of the Court of Appeal nationwide, who will sit throughout the week in Lagos and at the National Industrial Court.

“For this exercise, the court has constituted 16 panels comprising 40 honourable Justices drawn from various divisions of the court,” she said.

According to her, the deployment came at a significant cost, as some divisions were temporarily left with reduced judicial strength to ensure the success of the Lagos sitting.

“Many divisions have been left without Justices to take their cases. In appreciation of this sacrifice, I appeal to all lawyers to take this session seriously,” she stated.

She urged counsel and litigants to ensure their appeals were fully prepared for hearing, warning against avoidable delays. Recalling a previous special sitting, Justice Dongban-Mensem lamented that poor preparedness by lawyers had undermined the exercise.

“It was very painful for me because our limited resources had been spent on air tickets, accommodation and logistics, yet we could not take most of the appeals because many counsel were not prepared,” she said.

Emphasising the seriousness of the exercise, she added: “When we set out time to work, we want to work. This is not a vacation.”

The President of the Court of Appeal expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government, particularly the Office of the Attorney-General, for providing logistical support that made the special sitting possible.

“I wish to express our profound appreciation to the Office of the Attorney-General of Lagos for collaborating with the court to ensure this week happens. Otherwise, our slim resources would not be able to carry as many Justices as are here Today,” she said.

She also thanked the National Industrial Court for offering courtroom facilities and residential accommodation for the visiting Justices.

Beyond addressing case congestion, Justice Dongban-Mensem cautioned against conduct capable of eroding public trust in the judiciary.

“If we do not encourage people to have faith in the judiciary, we may not be able to contain the lawlessness that will occur when people lose confidence,” she warned.

Speaking on behalf of the Bar, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, described the special sitting as a landmark development for the Lagos legal community.

“It is a rare and unprecedented opportunity for us within the Lagos Bar to be blessed with an array of wise and learned Justices from the various divisions of the Court of Appeal,” he said.
He pledged the cooperation of lawyers to ensure swift disposal of cases.

“We, on behalf of the Bar, assure my Lords of our readiness to facilitate a speedy and expeditious hearing of all pending cases. It is in our own interest and in the interest of our clients,” Adegboruwa said.

He also congratulated the Court of Appeal on its golden jubilee and highlighted persistent funding and infrastructure challenges facing the judiciary.

“We know the challenges being faced by the judiciary in respect of lack of funding from the federal government. The Bar will continue to work with the judiciary to ensure that this important arm of government is well funded,” he added.