Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) has disclosed that the Supreme Court delivered 369 judgments during the 2024/2025 legal year, representing a 49 percent increase from the 247 judgments delivered in the previous year.
Kekere-Ekun made this known in Abuja during a special court session marking the commencement of the 2025/2026 Legal Year, attributing the improvement to reforms, enhanced case management, and the dedication of justices and court staff.
According to the CJN, the apex court considered 2,280 matters between September 2024 and July 2025. These comprised 1,720 motions and 560 appeals. The motions included 1,025 civil, 488 criminal, and 27 Sharia-related matters, while the appeals consisted of 352 civil, 180 criminal, six political, 15 Sharia, and seven originating summons.
She noted that this was a significant improvement from the 1,124 cases handled and 247 judgments delivered during the 2023/2024 Legal Year.
Justice Kekere-Ekun outlined various reforms undertaken to modernise the judiciary, including the computerisation of court processes, the creation of a digital court records unit, a central information unit for real-time case updates, and the digitisation of exhibits and judgments.
She also announced the launch of an online platform for Notary Public applications, an electronic notary register, and a fully integrated e-filing system through the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS). These efforts, she said, have helped reduce case delays, file losses, and administrative challenges.
On judicial accountability, she stated that the National Judicial Council reviewed all pending petitions, imposed sanctions where necessary, cleared others, and barred a frequent petitioner from filing further frivolous claims. Erring lawyers were referred to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee.
She also emphasised the importance of staff welfare, noting timely salary payments, improved allowances, and consistent engagement with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria to avoid strikes. According to her, the competence and morale of staff directly impact the quality of justice delivery.
Justice Kekere-Ekun paid tribute to four deceased retired justices, including former Chief Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais.
She also commended Lawal Hudu Garba, a physically challenged lawyer, for his dedication and professionalism, describing his journey as a testament to perseverance and excellence.
She reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission secured 1,417 convictions in the first half of 2025, while the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission initiated 43 new cases, secured nine convictions, and recorded a drop in case volume due to its focus on prevention.
The Chief Justice called on the executive and legislature to improve judicial funding, infrastructure, and technology, noting that addressing the judiciary’s challenges requires cooperation among all arms of government and the public.
She conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on 57 lawyers and reminded them that the honour is a privilege that may be withdrawn if abused. She also noted that the Court addressed more than 2,000 matters during the legal year, helping to reduce the case backlog.
She highlighted additional reforms, including stricter timelines, closer monitoring of proceedings, training for judges and staff, and improvements in court infrastructure and digital access to information.
A special committee was set up to restructure the Supreme Court’s litigation department, leading to the establishment of a court records processing unit and a central information unit to address file management and access to case details.
Justice Kekere-Ekun reiterated efforts to ensure discipline within the judiciary.
She stated that digital reforms were ongoing, including full e-filing integration, digitisation of exhibits and judgments, and the creation of a disposal unit for archiving completed cases.
CJN further noted that staff welfare remained a priority, with improvements in salaries, benefits, and efforts to maintain industrial peace through engagement with relevant unions.
She acknowledged the role of the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee in supporting the expedited handling of anti-graft cases.
In her closing remarks, she congratulated the 57 newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria, urging them to uphold high standards and contribute to justice delivery.
She gave special recognition to Lawal Hudu Garba for his resilience, saying his achievement reflected the strength of the human spirit and the triumph of determination over adversity. All 57 new SANs took their oaths during the ceremony.
Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice praised the Supreme Court for its role in promoting constitutionalism and democracy.
He commended the Chief Justice for her leadership since assuming office, particularly her efforts to implement reforms, ensure judicial discipline, and strengthen digital processes.
He pledged continued collaboration with the judiciary to enhance justice delivery, acknowledging recent improvements in case management, resolution of conflicting judgments, and the enforcement of new Supreme Court rules.
Wole Olanipekun, representing the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, expressed concern over the number of political cases before the apex court, describing the situation as unprecedented globally.
He urged politicians and lawmakers to respect election outcomes and reduce litigation over political matters.
Afam Osigwe, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, called for urgent reforms to address judicial delays, especially in constitutional cases that often lose relevance before resolution.
He advocated for full digitisation of court processes, including electronic filing, digital recording, and better case management systems to improve efficiency and transparency.
He also called for more inclusive judicial appointments based on merit, and recommended written tests and evaluations to ensure competent candidates are appointed. On the issue of bail, he warned against the misuse of remand orders and urged the implementation of provisions that allow for professional bondspersons to prevent unnecessary detention.
Osigwe reminded the new SANs that the rank is a call to duty and leadership, not just a title, and urged them to mentor younger lawyers and uphold ethical standards.
Kolawole Esan, speaking on behalf of the newly conferred SANs, expressed appreciation to the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee and pledged to uphold the responsibilities that come with the rank.
