Supreme Court directs lawyers to upload appeal documents online from September

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has issued a directive requiring legal practitioners to submit all appeal and motion documents electronically. This new rule mandates the use of the Nigerian Case Management System for cases scheduled between September and December 2026.

According to a statement signed by Chief Registrar Kabir Akanbi, the directive aligns with Rule 10(1) of the Supreme Court Practice Direction, 2026. Lawyers are instructed to access the court's website to view the list of scheduled appeals and motions. They must then upload all pertinent documents, such as the Record of Appeal, Briefs of Argument, and any pending motions, no later than 30 days prior to their scheduled hearing date.

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Thereafter, Counsel are required to upload all relevant filed documents relating to their matters, including the Record of Appeal, Briefs of Argument, pending Motions, and all other filed processes, not later than thirty (30) days before the scheduled hearing date, as stipulated under Rule 10(1) of the Supreme Court Practice Direction, 2026.

The court emphasized that strict compliance is crucial for the efficient operation of the electronic case management platform and the timely determination of cases. This initiative aims to streamline legal processes and enhance the efficiency of the apex court's operations.

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The Court urges all Counsel to comply strictly with this requirement to facilitate the seamless operation of the Nigerian Case Management System and ensure the efficient and timely determination of cases.