Blessing Omale, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Judiciary is facing mounting pressure from rising demand for justice, following the filing of 30,179 new cases across its courts within the past year, prompting plans to recruit additional judges and strengthen case management.
Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, Chief Judge of the FCT, disclosed this on Wednesday, noting that the Magistrate Courts accounted for the largest share of new filings, with 23,200 cases, while the High Court received 6,727 cases and the Abuja Multi-Door Courthouse (AMDC) recorded 252 cases.
The figures highlight the growing workload confronting the FCT Judiciary as it seeks to improve the pace of justice delivery, address pending cases and strengthen the capacity of its courts to cope with increasing litigation.
Speaking at a special court session to mark the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year of the FCT Judiciary, Baba-Yusuf said the courts recorded significant progress in disposing of cases during the period, with the High Court deciding 5,625 cases, the Magistrate Courts resolving 19,292 and the AMDC disposing of 195 cases.
Despite the number of cases concluded, the Chief Judge said the volume of new filings and the existing backlog required sustained institutional attention, particularly as demand for judicial services continued to rise.
He disclosed that the High Court had commenced the process of appointing additional judges as part of efforts to address the pressure on the courts and improve the delivery of justice.
“The workload indicates that the challenge of pending cases in this jurisdiction, where the demand for justice is rising with each passing day, requires sustained attention.
“To address this, the High Court has started the process of appointing additional judges.
“Efforts are also in place to build upon the work already undertaken, improve the consistency of our case-management systems and strengthen the quality and timeliness of judicial service delivery,” he said.
Baba-Yusuf said the judiciary had also prioritised capacity building for judicial officers across all levels and other court personnel during the year under review, alongside the renovation of facilities across the various divisions of the court.
He added that the judiciary was pursuing technological reforms to improve court operations, disclosing that two Magistrate Courts in Wuse Zone 2 had been digitised, with plans at an advanced stage to extend the initiative to other courts.
According to him, the digitisation programme forms part of efforts to build an innovative and technology-driven justice system capable of improving efficiency and strengthening service delivery.
However, the Chief Judge acknowledged that the judiciary continued to face challenges arising from the increasing number of cases, the volume of pending matters, inadequate personnel, infrastructure maintenance and the demands of digital transformation.
He said addressing these challenges would require coordinated and measurable interventions, particularly in case management, judicial statistics and monitoring of cases pending before the courts.
Baba-Yusuf emphasised the need to strengthen institutional discipline through improved monitoring of the age of pending cases, accurate judicial records and timely compliance with procedural requirements.
He urged court personnel to embrace reforms with professionalism and willingness to acquire new skills, while calling on stakeholders to support the judiciary with the infrastructure, resources and safeguards necessary for sustainable improvements.
The Chief Judge also stressed that such support must be provided with full respect for judicial independence.
Meanwhile, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, called for greater use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to reduce the number of disputes taken to court.
Fagbemi, whose address was delivered by Tijjani Gazali, SAN, commended the FCT Judiciary for its achievements during the preceding legal year but urged it to sustain efforts towards ensuring fair and timely administration of justice.
He said arbitration and mediation should be encouraged, particularly in disputes that could be resolved amicably, noting that lawyers also had a responsibility to support practical measures aimed at reducing the workload of the courts.
“Arbitration and mediation should be embraced where suitable, particularly in disputes that can be settled amicably,” he said.
The AGF also drew attention to the provisions of Section 294(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires judges to deliver their judgments in writing within 90 days after parties have adopted their written addresses.
He further noted that the provision requires certified copies of judgments to be made available to parties within seven days of delivery.
Fagbemi expressed concern over complaints by litigants who had experienced difficulties obtaining copies of judgments within the stipulated period, saying such delays could undermine their ability to challenge decisions through the appeal process.
He regretted that, despite the constitutional provisions, some litigants had continued to complain that delays in obtaining certified copies of judgments were frustrating their efforts to appeal against decisions they considered unfavourable.
The Minister said timely access to court judgments remained essential to the administration of justice, particularly in protecting the rights of litigants and ensuring that the appeal process was not obstructed by administrative delays.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s readiness to support efforts to modernise the operations of the FCT Judiciary and improve access to justice for citizens.
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