The Federal Government has called on the judiciary to fast-track hearings for cases involving terrorism, kidnapping, human trafficking, and other serious crimes.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN) on Monday, said the judiciary, as the “guardian of justice and the custodian of the rule of law, must lend its weight to national efforts to combat insecurity”. He spoke at the Court of Appeal’s 2025/2026 Legal Year opening ceremony.
Commending the appellate court for introducing special sittings to tackle case congestion, Fagbemi acknowledged public scrutiny of judicial decisions but stressed that criticism highlights the judiciary’s central role in democracy.
He warned of the grave challenge of insecurity, saying, “From insurgency and terrorism to banditry, kidnapping, and violent crimes, these threats imperil not only the safety of our citizens but also the very fabric of our constitutional democracy”.
Fagbemi urged courts to ensure swift adjudication, adding, “Through firm, consistent, and courageous adjudication, the courts can ensure that those who threaten peace and stability are held accountable, that impunity is dismantled, and that the sanctity of human life and property is protected”.
Highlighting the role of the courts in complementing security operations, he said, “The swift administration of justice is a vital complement to military and intelligence operations… The Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is committed to the immediate appointment of additional judges of the Federal High Court to reinforce and boost our national counter-terrorism efforts”.
He also called for expedited hearings of commercial cases affecting the economy: “I therefore respectfully urge this Honourable Court to accord accelerated hearing to commercial cases whose outcomes bear directly on the economy, investor confidence, and the prosperity of our people.”
Meanwhile, Court of Appeal President, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem highlighted the backlog of cases, noting, “Electoral matters consume our time and energy… Democracy cannot flourish if every electoral contest is dragged into the courtroom”.
On corruption allegations, the PCA challenged critics to provide evidence: “We keep hearing of allegations of corruption against judicial officers. Please provide the evidence… Since no one has come up with any evidence to show that we are corrupt, then we believe we are doing our best even through the discomfort”.
She also stressed the need to improve judges’ welfare and called for a constitutional amendment to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal.
Justice Dongban-Mensem disclosed that during the last legal year, the court received 5,225 appeals and 9,906 motions. “As at 31st October 2025, the Court has 31,618 Appeals and 3,382 Motions pending… The significant reduction in the backlog this year reflects the exceptional commitment and hard work of my brother justices in dispensing justice judiciously and judicially”, she said.
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