- Supreme Court orders lawyers to upload all case documents for appeals and motions slated between September and December 2026.
- Counsel must comply through the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS) at least 30 days before their hearing dates.
- Directive aims to improve case management, speed up proceedings and ensure seamless implementation of the court’s digital filing system.
- Chief Registrar Kabir E. Akanbi urges strict compliance with Rule 10(1) of the Supreme Court Practice Direction, 2026
July 14, (THEWILL) — The Supreme Court of Nigeria has directed all legal practitioners handling appeals and motions scheduled for hearing between September and December 2026 to upload all relevant court documents through the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS) at least 30 days before their hearing dates.
THEWILL reports that the directive, issued pursuant to Rule 10(1) of the Supreme Court Practice Direction, 2026, is part of the apex court’s efforts to strengthen its digital case management system and ensure the efficient and timely determination of pending appeals.
In a notice signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir E. Akanbi, the court instructed counsel to first verify whether their matters are listed for hearing by visiting the Supreme Court’s website, navigating to the Litigation section, selecting the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS), and downloading the list of appeals and motions fixed between September and December 2026.
The court stated that after confirming their cases, counsel are required to upload all relevant filed documents relating to their matters through the NCMS.
The documents to be uploaded include the Record of Appeal, Briefs of Argument, pending motions and every other court process already filed in respect of the appeals.
According to the notice, the uploads must be completed not later than 30 days before the scheduled hearing date in strict compliance with Rule 10(1) of the Supreme Court Practice Direction, 2026.
The apex court stressed that the directive is aimed at facilitating the seamless operation of the Nigerian Case Management System, reducing procedural delays and improving the efficiency of appellate proceedings.
“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”, the notice read.
The Nigerian Case Management System is a digital platform introduced by the apex court to modernise case administration, improve access to court records and promote faster judicial processes.
The latest directive underscores the Supreme Court’s continued commitment to leveraging technology to enhance judicial efficiency while ensuring that appeals and other matters are heard and determined without avoidable delays.
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