The President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has established special panels aimed at clearing the backlog of pending appeals before the court.
Presiding over one of the panels on Tuesday in Abuja, Justice Dongban-Mensem welcomed counsel and wished them a happy new year, noting it was her first sitting for 2023.
In a bid to decongest the court and ensure speedy dispensation of justice, she set up six special panels consisting of 10 appeals each to be heard.
The panels comprise justices pulled from various divisions under a tight schedule, including new Court of Appeal Justices A.L Ganiyu and A.R. Mohammed.
Justice Dongban-Mensem reiterated the need for counsels to fully prepare their case files before appearing in court so as not to waste the time of the special sittings. She further urged lawyers to study and obey Court of Appeal rules to enable efficient hearings and timely delivery of justice.
Legal experts describe the special panels as a proactive step towards reducing the case burden on the Court of Appeal and enhancing access to appellate justice for litigants.
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer