The Federal High Court of Nigeria has restated it commitment towards innovative methods of improving the justice system in Nigeria.
The Chief Judge of the Court Justice John Tsoho made this known during a ceremony to mark 2022/2023 Special Legal Year of the Federal High Court.
Addressing judges and judicial staff in Abuja, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Tsoho explained that the primary responsibility of the court which is to provide access to justice is on his mind adding that he is resolute to enhance the smooth administration of justice.
Justice Tsoho announced that the federal high court tax appeal rules 2022 and the admiralty jurisdiction procedure rules 2022 have been synced and is on the process of being gazetted.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the electoral amendment act 2022, justice Tsoho said the act was enacted due to increasing responsibility that required additional support.
“In response to this enormous time – bound responsibility and upon realization that the practice Directions on pre-election matters will not be enough to salvage the imminent lapsing of many of these cases and its attendant consequences, I constituted a special task force for their swift disposal.”
With the increase in number of cases in the court’s docket and retirement of some judges, justice Tsoho announced that, the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial service Commission have approved the appointment of 15 new judges to address the challenge.
“In our determination to enhance the smooth administration of justice, practice directions and guidelines were released within the legal year. This was in response to novel legal issues the court had to grapple with, which we acted swiftly and decisively to contain.”
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court emphasized the need for acquisition of relevant technology for the judiciary to achieve speedy and quality justice delivery.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami said, he is determined to work with the leadership of the court to facilitate provisions of additional funding in support of the work load of the court.
Malami, represented by Solicitor General of the federation Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba commended judges of the federal high court on war on corruption by adjudicating on corrupt related matters.
Speaking on behalf of Body of Benchers, a Senior Advocates of Nigeria Mr. Asiwaju Awomolo called for the establishment of constitutional courts to relieve regular courts of political cases as obtained in some African countries.
A total of 1, 838 pre-election cases were filed in the court out of which 1,285 cases disposed of leaving over 500 pending.
Meanwhile, over 13 thousand regular cases were disposed of in the last legal year with 135,592 cases including civil and criminal cases pending.
