SENATE PASSES BILL TO INCREASE NUMBER OF APPEAL COURT JUSTICES—–rejects bill on geopolitical zoning

SENATE PASSES BILL TO INCREASE NUMBER OF APPEAL COURT JUSTICES                                —–rejects bill on geopolitical zoning

Senate at plenary tuesday passed a bill into law to increase the number of justices of the court of appeal from 90 to 110.

The bill which is an amendment of the court of appeal act 2013 followed the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

Presenting the report, chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), said that the bill, sponsored by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu), is to ensure that the appeal court has the necessary number of justices to handle cases in line with the realities of timelines and efficiency in administration of justice.

“This is necessary in order to eliminate delay in the justice delivery systems, as it relates to the adjudicatory powers of the court, this proposed amendment undoubtedly is targeted at decreasing the workload of the court and enhancing its effective performance,” he said.

He noted that stakeholders were unanimous in their support of the passage of the bill into law, due to its importance to justice sector reform.

“The one silent improvement of this bill is the aspect that seeks to integrate virtual court proceedings which have become an integral part of our court proceedings, this also is in line with the guideline given to courts by the Chief Justice of the Federation, as justice will no longer be delayed,” he explained. 

In contrast, a bill that sought political power rotation round the six geopolitical zones in the country was turned down on grounds that it was against provisions of 1999 constitution.  

Titled “A bill for an Act to Provide for the Rotation of Power and for other related matters in 2022” the sponsor Senator Patrick Abba Moro (PDP Benue South), explained that the bill if passed into law, would promote equity, fairness and justice among the various geographical zones and ensured a sense of belonging required for nationhood of a heterogeneous country like Nigeria.

“If there is a law on power rotation in Nigeria, it will help to ameliorate the squabble for power, particularly the Presidency across the various six geopolitical zones and also promote unity in the country,” he said.

The bill was to pass second reading after his lead debate, but it was opposed by many of the senators.

Argument against the bill made Senator Abba Moro to withdraw it through order 42 of the senate’s standing rules.