The House of Representatives has passed two bills seeking to increase the number of judicial officers in the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court as well as legalise virtual appearance and proceedings in the courts.
The House raised the number of Justices in the appellate court from 90 to 100, while the number of judges at the FHC was increased from 100 to 150.
The bills passed third reading at the plenary on Thursday.
One of the legislation is titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Court of Appeal Act, 2013 to, Among Other Things, Increase the Number of Justices of the Court from Ninety to One Hundred and Ten, Provide for the Integration of Virtual Court Proceedings; and for Related Matters.’
The other is titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal High Court Act, Cap. F12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Provide for the Increase in the Number of Judges from 100 to 150 and to Make Provisions for the Regulation of the Award of Prejudgment in Relation to Claims Bothering on Commercial Transactions in Nigeria; and for Related Matters.’
In the same vein on Thursday, the House also passed bills seeking to make teachings about breast and cervical cancer as well as sexual and gender-based violence included in school curriculum.