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 constituted for the exercise.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, who presided over the special session on Monday, said the initiative reflects the court’s deliberate and sustained commitment to improving efficiency in the administration of justice.
She explained that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub, carries a heavy appellate workload, making proactive intervention necessary to reduce delays and ease pressure on the justice system.
According to her, 16 panels comprising 40 justices were drawn from different divisions of the Court of Appeal across the country and will sit throughout the week in Lagos, including 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 appealed to lawyers to take the exercise seriously and ensure their cases were ready for hearing.
Recalling a previous special sitting where many appeals could not be heard due to lack of preparedness by counsel, she warned against unnecessary delays, stressing that the exercise was strictly for work and not a vacation.
She also commended the Lagos State Government, particularly the Office of the Attorney-General, for providing logistical support that made the special sitting possible, noting that the court’s limited resources would not have been sufficient to accommodate the large number of justices deployed.
The Court of Appeal President further acknowledged the National Industrial Court for providing courtroom facilities and residential accommodation for the justices during the exercise.
Beyond case management, she cautioned against actions capable of eroding public confidence in the judiciary, warning that a loss of faith in the justice 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, adding that it was in the best interest of both lawyers and their clients.
Adegboruwa also congratulated the Court of Appeal on its golden jubilee and highlighted ongoing funding and infrastructure challenges facing the judiciary, pledging continued collaboration between the Bar and the Bench to strengthen the justice system.
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