President Bola Tinubu has asked lawmakers to approve a major expansion of the Court of Appeal. He wants to increase the number of justices from 70 to 110 to improve the speed and efficiency of the justice system.
The request was made in an official bill sent to the House of Representatives, titled the “Court of Appeal Amendment Bill, 2026.” The proposal argues that more judges are needed to handle the court’s growing workload and reduce delays.
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read the president’s letter during a session on Wednesday. The bill has now been formally introduced for the legislature’s consideration.
This move follows longstanding concerns over case backlogs in Nigeria’s appellate courts. Many appeals face lengthy delays before they are heard and decided.
The House of Representatives will now debate the bill. It must be passed by both chambers of the National Assembly before becoming law.
If approved, the expansion would represent one of the largest increases in the court’s history. The next step is for the bill to be assigned to a committee for detailed review.
