The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered lawyers appearing before it to begin uploading all appeal-related documents through its electronic case management platform for matters slated between September and December 2026.

The directive, issued by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi, mandates counsel to file their processes via the Nigerian Case Management System hosted on the court’s website. It marks a significant step in the judiciary’s gradual transition from paper-based to digital case administration.

According to the statement, the move is anchored on Rule 10(1) of the Supreme Court Practice Direction, 2026, which provides the legal framework for electronic filing and management of cases at the apex court.

Lawyers are required to first confirm that their appeals or motions have been listed for hearing within the September to December window. They are to do this by visiting the Supreme Court’s website, navigating to the Litigation section, and accessing the Nigerian Case Management System, where the cause lists and related information are available.

Once they have identified their matters, counsel must upload all relevant documents, including the record of appeal, briefs of argument, pending motions, and any other filed processes connected to the case.

The court stressed that these documents must be uploaded not later than 30 days before the scheduled hearing date. Failure to comply within this timeframe could affect the smooth handling of the matters, as the new system is designed to rely primarily on digital records.

The directive applies to all appeals and motions fixed for hearing during the four-month period, without exception. The Supreme Court described the measure as essential to ensuring efficiency, faster access to case files, and better preparation by both the bench and the bar.

Akanbi urged legal practitioners to strictly adhere to the new requirement, noting that full cooperation from counsel is critical to the success of the Nigerian Case Management System. The court, he added, is working to modernise its operations and reduce delays associated with manual filing and bulky paper records.

The initiative aligns with broader efforts within Nigeria’s judiciary to embrace technology, improve transparency, and enhance the timely determination of cases at the highest level of the court system.