The House of Representatives has issued a strong plea to the Federal Government, urging the appointment of nine new justices to the Supreme Court. This call comes in an effort to expedite the resolution of cases and improve the efficiency of the justice system within the country.
The decision to make this request followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance presented by Patrick Umoh (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) during a plenary session held in Abuja on Thursday.
In his motion, Umoh highlighted a concerning development, namely, that the current number of justices serving on the Supreme Court has dwindled to a record low of 11. This number falls significantly short of the constitutionally mandated full complement of 21 justices.
This shortage of justices has resulted in a backlog of cases, and the Supreme Court’s docket for the year 2023 is already brimming. Parties are struggling to secure hearing dates, except in cases related to elections.
Umoh voiced his apprehension about the ramifications of not appointing new justices to the Supreme Court. This situation not only hampers the timely, effective, and efficient delivery of justice but also obstructs economic transactions and development. Furthermore, it curtails citizens’ access to justice and places immense mental and physical pressure on the existing justices, which, in turn, hampers the court’s policymaking function.
Umoh commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to upholding the rule of law and supporting the judiciary. He also praised the president for enacting the constitutional amendment unifying the retirement age and pension benefits of judicial officers.
The House, upon adopting the motion, has entrusted its Committee on Federal Judiciary with the responsibility of ensuring the implementation of this resolution.
