A’Court president laments endless election cases

File: The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem

Kindly share this story:

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has urged Nigerians to support allegations of corruption against judicial officers with credible evidence, rather than resorting to petitions and public condemnation without proof.

Justice Dongban-Mensem made the call on Monday at the Court of Appeal 2025/2026 legal year ceremony held at its headquarters in Abuja.

She said the judiciary was increasingly subjected to unsubstantiated allegations, stressing that the proper channel for addressing dissatisfaction with court decisions is through the appellate process.

“We keep hearing of allegations of corruption against judicial officers. Please provide the evidence. Evidence is what we need. 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 called for improved welfare for judges, especially in the area of accommodation, noting that judges require good housing for their safety.

She recalled an instance where a judge was murdered after living in an unsecured neighbourhood.

She cautioned the public against begrudging judicial officers when they receive government support, explaining that judges are restricted from engaging in private business and rely solely on state support.

“We don’t even have time to do other businesses to enable us to provide for ourselves. People should please not begrudge us if we are being supported by the government that we are serving and their support does not change us,” she stated.

Justice Dongban-Mensem emphasised that judges are guided strictly by facts and the law, noting that while mistakes may occur, they are not deliberate.

“We look at the facts, we apply the law. If we fail to do that, there are three levels of appeal. Judges can be wrong but we do not choose to be wrong,” she said.

She advised litigants to pursue appeals instead of filing petitions against judges.

“Go and appeal. Judges should not be weighed down with answering petitions. A judicial decision is supposed to be appealed against, not to be petitioned against,” she added.

She commended legal practitioners for their role in strengthening justice delivery and urged lawyers to improve the quality of their research and court submissions.

The Court of Appeal President also called for a constitutional amendment to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal, decrying the backlog of cases awaiting judicial attention.

“Electoral matters consume our time and energy,” she said.

She urged lawyers to encourage their clients to embrace amicable settlement through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

“Although the general elections are behind us, electoral litigation remained a dominant feature of our docket. Post-election disputes from governorship and legislative contests continued to reach the court for off-season elections.

“Endless litigation drains our scarce resources. We are currently in serious debt. We therefore appeal to political actors: democracy cannot flourish if every electoral contest is dragged into the courtroom.

“The spirit of sportsmanship must prevail. We urge politicians to respect the will of the electorate, accept outcomes in good faith, and place the peace and progress of our nation above personal ambition,” she added.

Giving statistics, she said that during the last legal year, the Court of Appeal received 5,225 appeals and 9,906 motions across its 20 divisions.

She added that 3,193 appeals were determined and 5,623 motions heard, while 2,503 appeals were dismissed and 690 were allowed.

“As at 31 October 2025, the court has 31,618 appeals and 3,382 motions pending.

“When compared with the 2023/2024 legal year, a clear improvement emerges. In that year, only 2,299 appeals were determined, and the number of pending appeals stood at 41,952.

“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 stated.

She added that as of October, the court’s ADR centres handled 121 matters, of which 34 were successfully resolved, 26 returned to court for adjudication due to lack of consensus, and 61 were still pending.

In his remarks, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), sympathised with the judiciary over public criticisms.

He said, “It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that in recent months, the judiciary has come under public scrutiny and criticism, often marked by misrepresentations of judicial decisions in the public space.

“These criticisms, whether fair or misplaced, remind us of the delicate balance between judicial authority, public trust and perception. Yet, let it be said clearly: criticism of the judiciary is a testament to the central role it plays in our democracy.”

The AGF called for accelerated hearings in commercial cases, stressing their importance to economic growth.

“While political cases often command public attention and urgency, it is imperative that we also recognise the critical role of commercial litigation in shaping the destiny of our nation. In an era where economic stability and foreign investment are indispensable to national growth, the timely resolution of commercial disputes becomes a matter of public importance.

“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,” the AGF added.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, described the Court of Appeal as the backbone of Nigeria’s evolving jurisprudence, noting that it remains the reference point when decisions of lower courts are questioned and when fundamental rights are tested.

“In this era of national and global turbulence, defined by economic uncertainty, political tensions and social unrest, the judiciary must continue to stand as a bulwark of stability, of fairness and of hope. The Court of Appeal has a pivotal role in interpreting the law in ways that reinforce public trust, spread accountability, and maintain the delicate balance required for a functional democracy,” he said.

He warned that systemic challenges continued to affect the justice system.

“Recent reports indicate that over 245,000 cases were pending in superior courts of record, including the Supreme Court, as of last year. Prolonged proceedings, repeated adjournments, procedural technicalities, and in some instances unmeritorious appeals, continue to congest court records. Many litigants endure years, and in some cases decades, of awaiting justice. As we all know, justice delayed is not only justice denied; it is justice diminished.

“Persistent underfunding of the judiciary continues to undermine the capacity of courts to function effectively. Inadequate resources manifest in poor infrastructure, insufficient courtrooms, inadequate support staff, outdated manual processes and slow adoption of modern case management technologies.

“Equally concerning are the recurring allegations of bribery, undue influence, bureaucratic inefficiency and inconsistent decision-making in parts of our judicial system. These issues, whether perceived or real, corrode public trust. When citizens begin to believe that justice can be bought, negotiated or improperly influenced, the moral foundation of the judiciary weakens,” he added.

He emphasised that slow adjudication, especially in corruption and public interest cases, had weakened deterrence and public confidence.

“Access to justice also remains limited for a significant number of citizens. High costs of litigation, geographical barriers, slow court processes and inadequate infrastructure place formal justice out of reach of many, particularly the poor, rural dwellers and vulnerable groups.Consequently, a growing number of citizens resort to informal or extrajudicial dispute resolution. While these mechanisms may be convenient, they undermine the rule of law, weaken judicial authority and threaten long-term social cohesion.

“Globally, we have also seen troubling trends where the rhetoric of judicial reform has been used to weaken judicial independence. In some jurisdictions, experienced judges have been replaced with loyalists, courts have been sidelined, and the separation of powers eroded. These international developments remind us that judicial institutions, no matter how established, remain fragile.

“However, while hard-won gains can be lost, they are painfully difficult to regain. My Lords, despite these daunting challenges, they are not insurmountable. They require collective courage, institutional foresight and an unwavering commitment to integrity from all stakeholders – the judiciary, the legal profession, the executive, the legislature and the public,” Osigwe said.

He added that while the problems may be heavy, the mission remains noble and sacred.

Charging the judiciary to remain strong and rise above the pressure, he said, “We must continue to rise above pressure, political or otherwise, and remain the moral anchor of our justice system. As this new legal year begins, we urge Your Lordships to remain courageous, visible, fair and steadfast in the interpretation of the law.

“For our part, the Nigerian Bar Association will continue to champion reforms aimed at enhancing judicial independence, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting anti-illegal practices,” Osigwe said.

Kindly share this story:

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]

UPDATE NEWS: Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25Million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder, 👉 click here to find out how it work (Be sure to ask for evidence of clients that have benefitted from this)

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.