House Moves To Increase FCT Judges To 67

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, December 12, (THEWILL) - The House of Representatives is fast-tracking a process to increase the number of judges in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court so as to lighten the workload of cases before the court. This followed the passage for second reading of a "bill for an Act which seeks to amend the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and make provisions for the increase of judges from the present 37 to the maximum 69 judges." Sponsor of the bill, Hon. Aminu Shagari (PDP, Sokoto), who said the workload "has been telling on these judges plus the prison decongestion," making their capability to attend to files difficult. He said the financial implication of the judges' increase would  not be accommodated instantly, as it would be streamlined as the years go by. Shagari cited cases of suit filings, where the number attended by the judges fell down to those that were not taken by the judges of the FCT, due to the workload. After adopting the bill, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha referred the bill to the Judiciary Committee for further legislative duties. By Saint Mugaga, Abuja