Nigerian Lawyers Back Supreme Court Decentralization Bill
The proposed decentralization of the Supreme Court of Nigeria has garnered widespread support, particularly among legal professionals, following the introduction of a bill by the House of Representatives.
On December 9, lawmakers presented a bill to establish five regional divisions of the Supreme Court in addition to the headquarters in Abuja, which will also serve the North Central geopolitical zone. The bill, sponsored by Manu Soro, representative of the Darazo/Ganjuwa federal constituency in Bauchi State, aims to amend Section 230(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
The proposed divisions would be located in Umuahia (South East), Bauchi (North East), Uyo (South-South), Lagos (South West), and Kano (North West), aiming to improve access to justice, reduce litigation costs, and expedite case resolutions.
Legal professionals have welcomed the initiative, highlighting its potential to improve judicial efficiency and reduce the backlog of cases.
National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Bridget Edokwe, commended lawmakers for the bold step. She emphasized that decentralization would ease the financial burden on litigants and enhance justice delivery.
“The move to decentralize the Supreme Court is a very welcome development. Establishing regional Supreme Court panels will fast-track the resolution of cases and significantly reduce costs for litigants outside the North Central zone,” Edokwe stated.
Enugu-based lawyer and public affairs commentator, C.I. Nnamani, echoed similar sentiments, stressing that decentralization would address delays in case resolutions at the apex court. He also lauded Abuja’s designation for the North Central zone, noting it would prevent unnecessary duplication of offices.
Human rights lawyer and former Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) president, Malachy Ugwummadu, noted that decentralization could revive administrative efficiencies previously seen under Nigeria’s 1960 and 1963 constitutions.
“If the goal is administrative convenience, it aligns with earlier constitutional provisions allowing the Supreme Court to sit in regions beyond the Federal Capital,” Ugwummadu remarked.
He also highlighted the need to address the judiciary’s overloaded docket, attributing congestion to the absence of streamlined case limitations for appellate courts.
Ugwummadu further advocated regional Supreme Courts for handling localized cases such as family and land disputes, while the federal Supreme Court could focus solely on national matters like elections, constitutional interpretation, and defense.
“The excessive caseload at the Supreme Court delays justice. Many litigants wait years for hearing dates, leading to frustration and disinterest. Decentralization can address this by allocating everyday matters to regional courts while reserving national issues for the federal apex court,” he explained.
The proposed reform, lawyers argue, could revolutionize Nigeria’s judiciary, delivering swifter justice and reducing the burden on the nation’s highest court. The bill, currently at its first reading, represents a significant step toward judicial modernization and enhanced access to justice.