81 FHC Judges To Treat Pending 128,234 Cases In 2022

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho has revealed that six more judges will soon be appointed to further enhance the effective administration of justice in the country.

Tsoho made this known on Thursday at the Abuja headquarters in Maitama during the special court session to mark the ceremonial commencement of the Federal High Court Legal Year 2021/2022.

Catherine Oby Christopher (PhD),
Chief Information Officer,
Federal High Court of Nigeria, told THE WHISTLER that there are currently 75 FHC judges.

With the appointment of 6 judges, the number of FHC judges would increase to 81 and according to Justice Tsoho, there are 128,234 pending cases the coming year, across the court’s divisions.

He said that more appointments are necessary because more cases have enormously loaded the dockets (official record of all of the proceedings pending in a court) of the serving judges.

“In the course of the 2020/2021 Legal Year, a number of staff were employed to improve service in the court. Also, the process for the appointment of 6 judges has reached advanced stage. We are also in the process of commencing the exercise for the appointment of 15 more judicial officers to further enhance high caliber service delivery.

“There were 40,822 civil cases; 30, 197 criminal cases; 35,563 motions and 20,258 fundamental rights enforcement applications pending at the end of the legal year. The total number of cases disposed of during that years was 6,915 cases; with a total of 128,234 pending at the end of the legal year,” Tsoho said.

He further explained that the court proceedings for the year was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the strike action of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

However, the CJ assured that during his time, he will build on the legacy of his predecessors by using available funds to improve human resources and infrastructural developments.

He appreciated governmental and non-governmental institutions that have contributed to the advancement of the courts.

“It is important at this stage on this occasion as it has always been, to remember all our brother judges, living and dead; who individually and collectively contributed to the success of this court from inception in 1973 till date,” he added.

On his part, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN commended the CJ for always giving justice on time.

Malami, who was represented at the event by Tijani Gazali, SAN, Acting Director, Civil Appeals, FMOJ, advised that there was need for the court to be more knowledgeable in ICT.

He also promised to use his statutory powers to ensure that the three arms of government don’t work at cross purposes.

Charging both lawyers and judges, the Body of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, represented by Chief Kalu Agabi SAN, praised the judicial officers for standing strong in the midst of corruption ravaging the country.

“Judges and lawyers are the agents of change, our place is in front, the nation looks up to us for guidance.

“As for you judges, the law is what you say it is. As lawyers and judges, we are bonded by the legal profession, we have a common father in God.

“We must stand united against violence and corruption that is fighting against us,” he said.