Senate Okays Increase In Number Of Appeal Court Justices From 70 To 90

The Senate yesterday approved the increase of Justices of Court of Appeal from 70 to 90 to facilitate quick dispensation of justice in the country.

The upper chamber also endorsed a bill criminalising illegal printing and circulation of fake Act of the National Assembly by unauthorised persons. The bill is titled Acts Authentication Act 1962 (Amendment) Bill 2011.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Umaru Dahiru (Sokoto South), while submitting the report on a bill seeking to amend the Court of Appeal Act 2005 (Amendment) Bill, 2011, said that the need to increase the number of justices was necessitated by the creation of additional Divisions of the Court across the country.

The Senate also received President Goodluck Jonathan’s request to confirm the nomination of Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to further empower him to tackle the menace of corruption in the country.  The senate resolved to screen him in the committee of the whole House.

However, the Senate has suspended Plenary till January 31 to allow  its standing committees to attend to budget defence by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).