In a landmark presentation that set the tone for deep judicial engagement at the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Maiduguri and Biu Branches Annual Law Week, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, Ph.D., delivered a paper titled “Practice and Procedure in the Court of Appeal: An Overview” on July 29, 2025.
His incisive exposition traced the historical evolution, jurisdictional powers, and modern procedural innovations of Nigeria’s penultimate court—the Court of Appeal.
Highlighting the Court’s establishment in 1976 as a response to the rising appellate caseload burdening the Federal Supreme Court, Chief Obegolu emphasised the Court’s pivotal role in sustaining the integrity and efficiency of Nigeria’s justice system.
He further detailed the structural and operational growth of the Court, including its expansion to 20 divisions across the six geopolitical zones and its jurisdiction over a wide array of appellate matters, spanning appeals from the Federal and State High Courts, National Industrial Court, Customary and Sharia Courts of Appeal, Election Petition Tribunals, and more.
A particular highlight of the presentation was the innovative creation of the Court of Appeal Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (CAADRC) in 2021—the first of its kind in West Africa—aimed at fostering expedited and amicable resolution of disputes through ADR mechanisms.
Chief Obegolu provided expert insights into the current regulatory instruments guiding proceedings before the Court, such as the Court of Appeal Rules 2021, Court of Appeal (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Rules 2021, and various Practice Directions on fast-track procedures, costs, and exemption from default fees. These instruments, he noted, collectively streamline litigation and promote efficient judicial outcomes within the appellate framework.
The paper stands as a critical resource for legal practitioners, judicial officers, and scholars alike, offering a comprehensive and current perspective on appellate practice in Nigeria.
To read the full 14-page document, please click the link below:
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE IN THE COURT OF APPEAL
Photos:
Legal Practitioners Remuneration Order 2023
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