Tinubu requests increase in number of Appeal Court, Federal High Court judges

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded two bills to the Senate, seeking to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court.

The two bills were conveyed in a letter read by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday in Abuja, just as senators reconvened from their Christmas and New Year break.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the letter containing Tinubu’s request at plenary on Tuesday.

According to Tinubu, the proposed amendment is aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity, efficiency and effectiveness of the court of appeal in line with constitutional provisions and current realities in the justice sector.

“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.

Tinubu said the bill also proposes a restructuring of provisions relating to the ranking of justices, including the ranking of the president of the court of appeal and the determination of seniority among justices.

He said the amendment seeks to modernise appellate court proceedings through the introduction of virtual hearings.

According to the president, the proposed ADRC will allow appellate matters to be referred for settlement outside the conventional court 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 changes are designed to improve professional efficiency and legal certainty in appellate practice in line with modern institutional standards.

“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 growing workload on the appellate court and is expected to reduce delays in the administration of justice.

He said the reforms would strengthen access to justice and reinforce public confidence in the judiciary.

Tinubu also transmitted a separate bill seeking to amend the Federal High Court Act to increase the number of judges from 70 to 90.

In addition, the president requested Senate confirmation of the appointment of Oyewole Joseph Kayode as a justice of the Supreme Court.

Following the reading of the letters, Akpabio referred the bills and the nomination to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.