Senator Izunaso highlighted that even with its current constitutional limit of 21 justices (following recent appointments), the Supreme Court remains overwhelmed by a daily influx of cases. He suggested that expanding the bench to 30 would allow for the formation of up to five panels simultaneously, potentially accelerating case resolution and reducing the long waiting times, with some litigants receiving hearing dates as far out as 2027 and 2028.
However, Afam Osigwe, SAN, NBA President, contends that simply adding more justices won’t fix the systemic issues plaguing the apex court. He pointed out that despite having a full complement of 21 justices in recent years, the court has still struggled with its workload, consistently described as one of the most “overworked and overburdened Supreme Courts in the world.”
Osigwe advocates for constitutional amendments that would limit the types of cases that can reach the Supreme Court. He emphasized that only cases of significant constitutional importance or those requiring the resolution of conflicting decisions from the Court of Appeal should be heard by the apex court. Routine cases with already settled legal principles, he argued, should not burden its docket.
“Instead of increasing the number, we should look at other options that may work,” Osigwe stated, stressing the need for the court to consistently sit in at least two panels. He further called for significant improvements in the court’s operational processes, including the adoption of advanced case management technologies. Without these fundamental changes, he warned, increasing the number of justices to 30 or even 50 would not effectively resolve the court’s inefficiencies.
