Since the move by the House of Representatives to decentralise the Supreme Court of Nigeria became a public knowledge, Nigerians, particularly those in the legal profession, have been pouring accolades on the lawmakers for thinking along that line.
On December 9, the House of Representatives introduced a bill seeking to create five divisions of the Supreme Court across the country, in addition to the headquarters, in Abuja. According to the bill, Abuja is also expected to cater for the North Central geo-political zone.
The bill, titled, “A bill for Act to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the establishment of five divisions of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; to enhance access to the highest justice, to minimise the logistical cost of accessing justice and to ensure timely dispensation of matters brought before the apex court,” was sponsored by Manu Soro, representing Darazo/Ganjuwa federal constituency of Bauchi State.
The proposed legislation, according to reports, is seeking the alteration of Section 230(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for division of the Supreme Court to be located in Umuahia for the South East, Bauchi for the North East, and Uyo for the South-South.
The bill, which has equally scaled the first reading, proposes that Lagos and Kano should host the divisions of the apex court in the South West and North West respectively.
In its explanatory memorandum, the proposed legislation noted that the objective was to bring access to highest justice closer to the people, minimise the logistical cost incurred by litigants in accessing justice and ensure timely dispensation of matters brought before the Supreme Court
