In anticipation of post-election suits, senior lawyers have expressed concern over the depleting number of justices of the Supreme Court from the prescribed maximum of 21, saying the appointment of justices of the apex court would have to be expedited.
After the retirement of Justice Abdu Aboki on August 5, 2022, the number of justices on the Supreme Court bench dropped to an inadequate number of 13.
This has led to several calls from the legal quarters and from the Chief Justice himself urging the appointment of qualified judges to fill in the gaping vacancies. Yet nothing visible has changed in that regard.
In the last few months alone, following events arising from the electioneering season, the courts had been inundated with many suits going to fewer hands.
Expressing concern over the matter, lawyers have said that beyond the current issue, the decline poses a threat to the timeous and effective administration of justice in post-election cases in 2023.
Ideemlawful gathered that , a lawyer, Kunle Adegoke SAN, said the appointment of justices of the supreme court will have to be expedited.
He said, “There are many justices of the court of the appeal that has long been qualified to be elevated to the supreme court. But unfortunately, the process has been so slow that it has not been completed for a long time.
“Many have been on the waiting list for quite some time now. So if those justices of the court of appeal are elevated, it will reduce the pressure and increase the number of hands available to handle the judicial process at the level of the Supreme Court.
“He also noted that “some distinguished legal practitioners have applied to join the court of appeal and the supreme court. These patriots are looking for opportunities to serve the nation more. When such individuals are elevated to join the apex court, this will reduce the pressure on their Lordships and there will be enough room for them to give full consideration to the cases before them.”
