Abuja High Court carries over 155,969 cases to new legal year

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has disclosed that the court carried over 152,469 cases from the previous year.

During the 2024/2025 legal year, Justice Tsoho noted that 13,648 new cases were filed, 10,148 cases were disposed of, and 155,969 cases were carried into the current legal year.

Justice Tsoho revealed these statistics during a special legal year session held in Abuja, where he detailed the court’s performance metrics.

Of the pending cases, 43,030 are civil matters, 41,335 are criminal cases, 28,760 involve fundamental rights enforcement, and 42,844 consist of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) cases, petitions, and motions.

Despite the heavy workload, Justice Tsoho highlighted significant achievements. He attributed these to the appointment of 23 additional judges in late 2023, which he said had a visible impact on the court’s operations.

“We have done well in the face of our enormous jurisdiction, notwithstanding that eight of our judges were elevated to the Court of Appeal Bench within the period under review,” the Chief Judge stated.

Justice Tsoho also noted key advancements, including the adoption of two pivotal practice directions: the Federal High Court (Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol) Practice Directions, 2024, and the Federal High Court (Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria) Proceedings Rules, 2024.

He explained that the Cape Town Convention practice directions align with international standards, ensuring the enforcement of contracts of sale, security interests, leases, and conditional sale agreements. This initiative enhances Nigeria’s appeal as a global business hub by promoting uniformity and predictability.

He added that the AMCON proceedings rules provide a specialised framework for resolving non-performing loans and facilitate a more efficient and transparent process for all stakeholders.

Justice Tsoho criticised the growing trend of some lawyers, litigants, and public commentators launching virulent attacks in the media against judges and their decisions. He described this as a dangerous practice undermining judicial integrity and the rule of law.

“These attacks, often initiated by disgruntled lawyers, litigants, and public commentators, reflect a misunderstanding of the judicial process and an attempt to gain public attention at the expense of judicial integrity,” he said.

The court said that dissatisfied litigants should utilise the appeal process or file complaints with the National Judicial Council (NJC) in cases of alleged judicial misconduct. Resorting to media criticism, the Chief Judge warned, deviates from lawful avenues and undermines the judiciary’s role.

Justice Tsoho expressed concern over malicious petitions and public campaigns against judges, particularly by some politicians and legal practitioners.

He accused certain lawyers of attempting to influence judgements and maligning judges when their attempts failed.

“The judiciary must not be cowed by such antics,” Justice Tsoho declared, adding that these actions jeopardise judicial independence and erode public trust in the judiciary.

The Chief Judge called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to address misconduct within its ranks, stressing the need to uphold ethical standards. He also advocated for the revival of contempt proceedings to protect the judiciary’s integrity.

Justice Tsoho clarified misconceptions surrounding bail bonds, explaining that a bail bond is not an immediate payment but a surety’s guarantee that the accused will attend court proceedings. This clarification aims to dispel misinformation and discourage undue criticism of judges over bail-related issues.