Editor
THE House of Representatives on Thursday advanced a bill seeking to amend the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Act to increase the number of judges serving in the FCT High Courts.
The bill passed its second reading and aims to address judicial delays by expanding the current maximum limit of 70 judges to a minimum of 100.
The proposed legislation was sponsored by Deputy Speaker Rep. Benjamin Kalu, Rep. Babajimi Benson, Rep. Akin Rotimi, and five other lawmakers.
Leading the debate, co-sponsor Hon. Jonathan Gbefwi highlighted the need for the amendment, emphasizing its importance in tackling delays in justice delivery.
He noted that the High Court of the FCT is a key component of Nigeria’s judicial system, handling cases not only for Abuja residents but also of national significance.
Gbefwi stated, “At the beginning of the 2022/2023 legal year, the FCT High Court carried forward 12,513 pending cases while an additional 5,952 new cases were filed. This significant backlog and growing workload have overstretched the court’s resources and undermined judicial efficiency.”
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He further explained that the current cap on the number of judges has hindered the court’s ability to handle the increasing volume and complexity of cases.
