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The Court of Appeal has deployed 40 justices to Lagos for a special sitting aimed at clearing a backlog of appeals, with 360 cases scheduled for hearing before 16 panels set up for the exercise.
Presiding over the session on Monday, Court of Appeal President Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem said the initiative underscores the court’s ongoing commitment to improving efficiency in the administration of justice.
“Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub, carries a heavy appellate workload,” she explained. “This proactive intervention is necessary to reduce delays and ease pressure on the justice system.”
The 16 panels, drawn from divisions of the Court of Appeal across the country, will sit throughout the week in Lagos, including sessions at the National Industrial Court. Justice Dongban-Mensem noted that the deployment required significant sacrifice, as several divisions were left with fewer justices to ensure the success of the Lagos sitting.
She also appealed to lawyers to come fully prepared for hearings, recalling a previous special sitting where many appeals were postponed due to lack of preparedness. “This exercise is strictly for work, not a vacation,” she warned.
The Court President commended the Lagos State Government, particularly the Office of the Attorney-General, for providing logistical support, noting that the court’s limited resources would not have been sufficient to accommodate the large number of justices deployed. She also thanked the National Industrial Court for providing courtroom facilities and residential accommodations for the justices.
Beyond case management, Justice Dongban-Mensem cautioned against actions that could erode public confidence in the judiciary, stressing that a loss of faith in the system could lead to lawlessness.
Speaking on behalf of the Bar, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa described the special sitting as historic and unprecedented for the Lagos Bar. He assured the court of the Bar’s full cooperation to ensure speedy and efficient hearings, emphasizing that it was in the best interest of both lawyers and their clients.
Adegboruwa also congratulated the Court of Appeal on its golden jubilee, while highlighting ongoing funding and infrastructure challenges facing the judiciary and pledging continued collaboration between the Bar and the Bench to strengthen the justice system.
