The Supreme Court has told lawyers to start submitting appeal documents electronically for cases due to be heard between September and December this year.
The directive is part of a new online system called the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS). Lawyers must upload documents like the Record of Appeal and Briefs of Argument at least thirty days before their case is heard.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, launched the system on Wednesday in Abuja. She said it would help the court work faster and keep better records.
Lawyers can check the Supreme Court’s website to see which cases are listed for hearing. They then upload the required documents for their case before the deadline.
This is the first phase of the new system. More cases will be added to the online system every few months until all pending appeals are covered.
The Chief Justice said paper records can get lost, damaged, or tampered with. Moving documents online means the court can track cases more easily and keep records safe.
The Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah, said the new system connects courts across the country. This means a case can move from a local court all the way up to the Supreme Court on the same digital platform.
The court has warned that lawyers who miss the deadlines may face penalties, though the exact fees were not confirmed in the court’s official statement.
Justice Kekere-Ekun also warned lawyers not to upload fake or altered documents, saying anyone caught doing this would face disciplinary action.
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