Justice Peter Ige of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has called for the decentralisation of the Supreme Court for more effective administration of justice.

Ige said there was nothing wrong if the Supreme Court had divisions in six geopolitical zones of the country just like the Court of Appeal, saying this would lessen the burden on the court.

Speaking in Ibadan during a valedictory court session for his retirement and 70th birthday held at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, Ige noted that decentralising the apex court would help to bring justice to the grassroots, adding that Court of Appeals would serve as a division of the Supreme Court that sits in those zones.

He lamented that the Court of Appeal has been depleted due to retirement and death, which make the workload of the court very heavy, adding that more Judges should be appointed to add to the 90 Judges currently in the Appeal Court.

He also said that there was the need for all pre and post-election matters to be determined before swearing in of winners in a particular election.

According to him, pre-election matters must be filed and determined before holding an election conducted by INEC, while post-election matters ought to be determined to finality before the winner of an election is sworn into office for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders in electoral process and adjudication.

Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dongban Mensem described Justice Ige as a remarkable individual and legal icon who deserves to be celebrated.

She noted that Ige has exemplified the virtue of fairness, integrity, diligence and deep commitment to upholding the principle of justice expected of a judicial officer, adding that his contributions to the legal community extend beyond the courtroom, because he shares his wealth of experiences and expertise through numerous paper presentations and legal consultations.

She said Ige’s willingness to impact wisdom and guide aspiring legal professionals have left an indelible impact on the next generation of lawyers.

She, however, thanked him for his impactful, dedicated and selfless services to law and justice, saying his legacy would continue to inspire generations.

She added that all who had the privilege of working with him would cherish his wisdom and guidance.