Supreme Court Gives Lawyers Fresh Order On Filing Cases

According to Ireporter Online, the directive was announced in a statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir E. Akanbi, in line with Rule 10(1) of the Supreme Court Practice Direction, 2026.

The apex court urged legal practitioners to review the list of cases fixed for hearing within the stated period and ensure compliance with the new requirement. Lawyers can access the hearing schedule through the Supreme Court’s official website by navigating to the Litigation section and selecting the Nigerian Case Management System, where the list is available for download.

The court stated that all processes already filed in the affected matters, including Records of Appeal, Briefs of Argument, pending motions and other relevant documents, must be uploaded not later than 30 days before the scheduled hearing dates.

It explained that the move is aimed at strengthening compliance with the Supreme Court Practice Direction, improving the efficiency of the NCMS platform, and promoting faster resolution of cases before the court.

The Supreme Court further directed all counsel with cases listed within the period to strictly follow the new procedure, stressing the importance of digital compliance in the administration of justice.

The development comes as Nigeria’s judiciary continues its transition from manual processes to electronic case management. The Nigerian Case Management System was introduced as part of efforts to modernise court operations and enhance access to justice.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, had earlier described the digital platform as a major milestone in transforming the country’s judicial system, noting that electronic filing would improve efficiency and reduce delays in court proceedings.