Court of Appeal holds special sitting in Lagos to mark Golden Jubilee, lists 360 Appeals for hearing
The Court of Appeal on Monday held a special court session in Lagos as part of activities marking the Golden Jubilee of the appellate court, with a strong focus on strengthening efficiency in the administration of justice and reducing the growing volume of appeals across its divisions.
The special sitting was presided over by the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem, who described the exercise as a deliberate and sustained effort by the court to proactively address docket congestion, particularly at the Lagos Division.
Justice Mensem noted that Lagos, being the commercial nerve centre of the nation, accounts for a substantial share of litigation nationwide, making it both trendy and necessary for the court to adopt innovative measures to decongest its dockets and ensure the prompt and effective delivery of justice.
According to her, the special sitting also provides a unique opportunity for Justices from other divisions of the Court of Appeal to gain exposure to the wide variety of matters ordinarily handled by the Lagos Division, which they may not encounter in their regular postings.
“For this exercise, the court has constituted 16 panels comprising 40 Justices drawn from various divisions of the Court of Appeal,” the PCA disclosed. “The panels will sit throughout the week, with some sessions taking place at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, while others will sit at the National Industrial Court Complex.”
She explained that the arrangement was designed to ensure the optimal utilisation of available judicial facilities and resources, while also maximising the court’s capacity to dispense justice efficiently.
Justice Mensem expressed appreciation to the Lagos Division for accommodating the visiting Justices, not only in terms of court facilities but also residential accommodation, describing the gesture as a reflection of the court’s collective goodwill and cooperation.
“We are grateful for the benevolence extended to us,” she said, adding humorously that the court hopes to soon “come out of penury” and be in a position to extend similar goodwill to other institutions.
The President of the Court of Appeal further informed stakeholders that a total of 360 appeals have been listed for hearing before the 16 panels constituted for the exercise, stressing that all the appeals are ripe for hearing.
She urged counsel and parties involved to take full advantage of the special sitting by ensuring that their processes are in order and free from defects that could delay proceedings.
“We expect counsel to take time before coming to court to thoroughly examine their processes,” Justice Mensem advised. “If there is anything in your process that may delay the hearing of an appeal, please take steps to remove that obstacle.”
The special sitting forms part of activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Court of Appeal and underscores the judiciary’s ongoing commitment to timely justice delivery and institutional efficiency.
