For Speedy Justice Delivery, CJN Wants Certain Cases End At Appeal Court

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has again called for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow for certain cases to terminate at the appellate court.

Justice Ariwoola made the call at the commencement of the 2022/2023 legal year of the Supreme Court and inauguration of 62 barristers and solicitors elevated to the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

The CJN said due to the backlog of appeals and heavy workload, it has become pertinent for certain appeals to terminate at the Court of Appeal so as to decongest the Apex court.

“We have said it repeatedly that ordinarily, most appeals should be allowed to end at the Court of Appeal; but such constitutional provision is yet to be enacted, so we have no blame in it, rather, we are daily overburdened by that long-awaited constitutional amendment as we work round the clock to attend to the plethora of appeals,” Ariwoola stated.

The CJN insisted that, “There should also be an amendment of the constitution to stop most interlocutory appeals from coming to the Supreme Court; they should be allowed to end at the Court of Appeal. The attitude of some of our lawyers too is unexciting.

“Some do not even mind throwing their integrity and reputation to the winds by taking briefs that they know lack substance, just for pecuniary reasons.

“So disturbing is the fact that even in the face of failure, they would still persuade their clients to push the case further on appeal,” Justice Ariwoola said.