Reps move to increase number of FCT High Court Judges

In a bid to ensure speedy dispensation of Justice, the House of Representatives at the plenary on Thursday passed through a second reading a Bill seeking to amend the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Act to provide for an increase in the number of Judges in the FCT High Courts.

The proposed legislation was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Babajimi Benson, Akin Rotimi, Jr, and five others.

Leading the debate on its general principles, one of the co-sponsors Jonathan Gbefwi stated that the Bill seeks to address a fundamental aspect of the judiciary’s ability to deliver timely justice, which is an increase in the number of judges in the High Court of the FCT, Abuja, from the current maximum of seventy to a minimum of one hundred Judges.

He noted that the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory stands as a crucial pillar in Nigeria’s judicial framework, serving not only the residents of Abuja but also, in many respects, playing a pivotal role in cases of national importance.

He recalled that at the beginning of the 2022/2023 legal year, the FCT High Court carried forward 12,513 pending cases from the previous year, underscoring a substantial backlog and over the same period, the court assigned an additional 5,952 new cases, bringing the workload to a level that greatly strains available judicial resources.

He said that as it stands, the High Court of the FCT is limited in the number of judges it can engage and it affects the rising volume and complexity of cases brought before it.

He expressed optimism that by increasing the number of Judges, this amendment is anticipated to reduce delays in case resolution, ensuring more efficient handling of cases, and consequently, enhancing public confidence in the judiciary.