All Cases Must Be Heard On Fixed Days Between Now & 2020 In The Supreme Court—–CJN

…Supreme Court Begins Publication of 3-month Cause List
on website
… CJN directs all cases to be heard on fixed
dates

On the directives of His Lordship, the Honourable, the Chief
Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Mr Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen,
GCON, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has commenced publishing its
cause list for up to three months per time on its website,
www.supremecourt.gov.ng^[1].

This is a departure from the former practice where the Court
only published weekly Cause List and the Rulings on Applications
from Chamber Sitting on the said website.

The policy, according to the CJN, is deliberately targeted at
the speedy dispensation of Justice and its publication is to
encourage Counsel to take advantage of the initiative and prepare
adequately ahead of hearings, to avoid any delays.

The Hon. CJN said it is pertinent to state that the Supreme
Court diary is full with appeals set down for hearing up to the
year 2021.

He said the appeals would be heard and judgements delivered as
necessary and in accordance with the Rules of the Court. He added
that the situation therefore leaves no room for unnecessary
adjournments arising from lack of diligent prosecution, poor
preparations or non-appearance by Counsel.

Accordingly, the Hon. CJN says this means that any matter that
is assigned a date must be heard and determined one way or the
other on that date.

”For appeals that may be discovered to have defects, Counsel is
advised to take necessary steps to amend such defects before the
due hearing date”, the Hon. CJN said, adding that ”Everyone must
come to the Court fully prepared for the business of the day”.

On a related note, the CJN advises Counsel to obtain their
official legal email addresses if they have not done so yet as
communication with and service of processes at the Supreme Court
remain only via the legal E-mail. Counsel can get the legal mail at
legal mail.nigerianbar.ng; while they can send appeal/motion
details to scn/lit.reg.@courts.gov.ng^[2]