No More Second Chances: The Supreme Court’s Bold Move to End Endless Time Extensions

Introduction

The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in the country. It was established under Section 230 of the 1999 Constitution, and exercises both original and appellate jurisdiction, handling disputes between the Federation and States, as well as appeals from the Court of Appeal. Given the volume of cases in its dockets the Supreme Court has faced a significant caseload, necessitating procedural reforms to enhance efficiency in justice delivery.

To address this issue, the Court introduced the 2024 Supreme Court Rules (‘the 2024 Rules’), which came into effect on August 1, 2024. The 2024 Rules repealed and replaced the longstanding 1985 Supreme Court Rules, ushering in several procedural innovations aimed at ensuring the expeditious disposal of cases. This article examines the key provisions of the 2024 Rules, particularly Order 4 Rule 15, its impact on litigants and pending cases, and the transitional measures introduced to mitigate potential disruptions.

The Game-Changer: Order 4, Rule 15 – The End of Endless Extensions

One of the most consequential provisions of the 2024 Rules is Order 4 Rule 15, which imposes strict limitations on applications for extension of time in filing court processes in the Supreme Court. The provision states: