The Federal High Court of Nigeria has informed lawyers in Lagos that it will commence e-filing of all new cases in the state on June 20, 2025.
The Federal High Court, in a circular signed by the court’s Chief Registrar, Sulaiman Hassan, states that from that date, lawyers will no longer be able to file cases manually as is currently the practice.
Hassan said the move is a significant step toward digitising court processes and enhancing judicial efficiency.
He, however, disclosed that all ongoing cases filed before the go-live date will continue to be processed manually until their conclusion.
The Chief Registrar urged lawyers to set up their Legal Mail accounts before the go-live date, as having a Legal Mail address is mandatory for accessing the e-filing platform.
Hassan further cautioned legal practitioners against under-declaring claims or misrepresenting documents, which can lead to an under-assessment of filing fees.
He stated, “Any such infraction will attract a penalty of N10,000 per filing, in addition to the outstanding amount owed.
“To access the new system, lawyers must obtain a Legal Mail account, now a mandatory requirement.
“Law firms are also expected to upload documents related to their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration when creating their chambers’ profiles on the platform.
“To ease the transition, the FHC will host a two-day interactive training session between June 16 and 20 to guide practitioners on using the platform effectively,” he stated.
The court also urged all legal practitioners to fully comply with the new procedures for a smooth transition to digital filing.
