Court of Appeal Targets November Digital Rollout

The Court of Appeal is working towards going live on the Nigerian Case Management System in November, according to Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

The anticipated rollout would extend the judiciary’s digital transition and support electronic transmission of appeals between participating courts.

In her October 12 legal-year address, the CJN said broader adoption was essential to an integrated court system. Her statement described work towards implementation, rather than confirming that the Court of Appeal platform was already operational.

Supreme Court implementation already underway

The Supreme Court commenced implementation of the NCMS and its mandatory electronic-upload Practice Directions on July 1, 2026.

The transition is being introduced in phases, beginning with pending appeals listed for hearing between September and December.

Kekere-Ekun said participating courts now included additional state High Courts and the Federal High Court’s Lagos Division. She encouraged courts yet to join to accelerate preparations.

Backlog remains a central concern

It was reported that the Supreme Court delivered 411 judgments during the preceding legal year.

The CJN outlined efforts to bring older matters forward, remove concluded cases from the active docket and assign selected proceedings to special panels. These measures accompanied the digital reforms rather than replacing the need for active case management.

What the transition means for counsel

LegalLinkz’s earlier review of the Practice Directions by Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi, SAN identified mandatory electronic submissions, searchable documents, formatting requirements and transmission concerns.

The review also highlighted system reliability, fees and the risk of technical barriers affecting access. legallinkz.com

For chambers, the practical priority is preparation: reliable document production, careful record management and staff familiarity with applicable filing procedures. The success of the transition will depend on dependable systems and clear communication between registries and counsel.