In a bid to reduce the growing backlog of cases and accelerate the delivery of justice, the Court of Appeal on Monday held a special sitting in Lagos as part of activities marking its Golden Jubilee, with no fewer than 360 appeals slated for hearing.
The special exercise took place at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal and other designated venues and was presided over by the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem. She described the sitting as a deliberate and strategic step aimed at decongesting the appellate court’s docket, particularly in Lagos, which bears a heavy litigation burden.
Justice Dongban-Mensem observed that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, generates a substantial volume of legal disputes, making proactive judicial interventions necessary to prevent delays and promote timely justice. She noted that the special sitting was designed not only to address congestion but also to improve overall efficiency in appellate adjudication.
She further explained that the exercise provided an opportunity for Justices from other divisions of the Court of Appeal to gain exposure to the wide range of complex commercial and civil disputes typically handled in Lagos, many of which are uncommon in other jurisdictions.
According to the PCA, 16 panels comprising 40 Justices drawn from various divisions of the Court of Appeal were constituted for the special sitting. The panels are expected to sit throughout the week, with hearings conducted at both the Court of Appeal complex in Lagos and the National Industrial Court premises.
She said the arrangement was carefully structured to optimise available judicial resources and infrastructure, while ensuring that a significant number of appeals were heard within a short period.
Justice Dongban-Mensem expressed gratitude to the Lagos Division for hosting the visiting Justices and for making available courtroom facilities and accommodation, describing the gesture as a strong example of collaboration and goodwill within the judiciary. She added, humorously, that improved funding would enable the Court to reciprocate such gestures more robustly in the future.
The PCA also disclosed that all 360 appeals listed for the exercise were ripe for hearing and urged lawyers and litigants to maximise the opportunity by ensuring that their filings were complete and free from procedural defects. She warned against unnecessary delays and stressed the importance of adequate preparation by counsel.
The special sitting, she said, underscores the judiciary’s commitment to enhancing access to justice and strengthening institutional efficiency as the Court of Appeal marks its 50th anniversary.
Reacting to the development, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, described the exercise as historic for the Lagos Bar, noting that it was rare to witness Justices from multiple divisions of the Court of Appeal sitting concurrently in Lagos.
He commended Justice Dongban-Mensem for initiating the special sitting to tackle the backlog of appeals and assured the court of the cooperation of legal practitioners to ensure smooth and expeditious proceedings.
Adegboruwa also congratulated the Court of Appeal on its Golden Jubilee, acknowledging its pivotal role in shaping Nigerian jurisprudence and strengthening the administration of justice over the decades.
While pointing to ongoing challenges confronting the judiciary, particularly inadequate funding and infrastructure, he reaffirmed the Bar’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at improving judicial capacity and resources. He also praised the sacrifice of the visiting Justices who temporarily relocated for the exercise and offered prayers for strength, wisdom and safe travels as they carried out their judicial duties in Lagos.