The Court of Appeal has deployed 40 justices to Lagos for a special sitting aimed at speeding up the hearing of appeals in the state. About 360 cases have been listed before 16 panels set up for the exercise.
President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, who presided over Monday’s session, said the move is a deliberate effort to improve the efficiency of justice delivery. She noted that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial centre, carries a heavy appeal workload that demands proactive intervention.
She explained that the 16 panels are made up of 40 justices drawn from various divisions of the court across the country. They are expected to sit throughout the week in Lagos, including at the National Industrial Court.
Justice Dongban Mensem said the deployment required sacrifice because some divisions were left with fewer justices to handle their own dockets. She appealed to lawyers to take the special sitting seriously and ensure their cases are ready for hearing.
Recalling a previous special session where many cases could not proceed due to lack of preparedness, she warned against wasting scarce resources. She stressed that the Lagos exercise is strictly for work and not a vacation.
The Appeal Court President commended the Lagos State Government, especially the Office of the Attorney General, for providing logistical support. She also thanked the National Industrial Court for making courtrooms and accommodation available to the visiting justices.
Beyond clearing cases, she cautioned against any conduct that could weaken public trust in the judiciary. She said maintaining confidence in the courts is critical to preventing lawlessness in society.
Speaking for the Bar, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ebun Olu Adegboruwa described the special sitting as historic. He said the Lagos Bar is privileged to host a large number of justices from different divisions at the same time.
Adegboruwa pledged the cooperation of lawyers to ensure speedy and effective hearings. He said both lawyers and their clients stand to benefit from faster resolution of long pending appeals.
He also used the occasion to highlight funding and infrastructure challenges facing the judiciary. He said the Bar will continue to work with the Bench to push for better funding from the federal government.
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