Atoyebi SAN Reviews Supreme Court’s 2026 Electronic Filing Practice Directions

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and legal practitioner, Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi, SAN, FCIArb (U.K), Notary Public, has examined the implications of the Supreme Court (Mandatory Upload of Electronic Copies of Processes, Record of Appeal, and Other Matters) Practice Directions, 2026, highlighting both the opportunities and practical concerns arising from the judiciary’s growing transition to digital processes.

In the article titled “A Review of the Supreme Court (Mandatory Upload of Electronic Copies of Processes, Record of Appeal, and Other Matters) Practice Directions, 2026,” Atoyebi said the new Practice Directions represent a significant departure from the traditional paper-based system of appellate procedure.

According to the review, the regime introduces mandatory electronic submission of court processes and Records of Appeal, alongside requirements for OCR-enabled documents, standardised formatting, defined timelines and increased reliance on the Nigeria Case Management System, NCMS.

The reforms are designed to address longstanding concerns associated with delays, administrative inefficiencies and difficulties in accessing, transmitting and managing appellate records.

Digital Reform and Access to Justice

Atoyebi’s review, however, notes that the transition to electronic appellate procedure is not without potential challenges.

Among the issues identified are transmission fees, technical compliance requirements, possible system failures and the risk that digitalisation could itself become a barrier to effective access to the Supreme Court.

The article examines the key provisions of the Practice Directions and their implications for both litigants and legal practitioners, particularly in relation to electronic filing requirements, transmission of Records of Appeal, prescribed fees and the practical demands of compliance.

It also stresses the importance of ensuring that the technology supporting the new regime remains reliable, accessible and supported by adequate procedural safeguards.

The underlying concern, according to the review, is that the move toward digitisation should resolve existing procedural inefficiencies rather than create new forms of delay or exclusion for parties seeking appellate justice.

The article therefore places particular emphasis on the need for a balanced implementation framework capable of combining technological efficiency with accessibility, fairness and procedural certainty.

Atoyebi concludes the intervention within the broader principle captured by the maxim:

“Actus curiae neminem gravabit” — an act of the court shall prejudice no one.