Federal High Court of Nigeria
{{Short description|None}}
{{Infobox high court
| native_name =
| image = Federal High Court Complex Abuja.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = The Federal High Court Complex in Abuja
| established = {{start date and age|1973}}
| dissolved =
| coordinates =
| motto =
| authority = Constitution of Nigeria
| terms = Life tenure with mandatory retirement at the age of 65.
| website = {{URL|www.fhc.gov.ng}}
| termstart =
| location = Shehu Shagari Way, Central District, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
| type = Presidential nomination with Senate confirmation
| term end =
}}
{{Politics of Nigeria}}
The Federal High Court of Nigeria (FHC) is one the Federal superior Courts of record in Nigeria.{{Cite web |title=Court History |url=https://www.nextfhc.fhc.gov.ng/about/history |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=www.nextfhc.fhc.gov.ng}} It has coordinate jurisdiction with the High Courts of the States of the Federation, including FCT. The headquarters is located in Shehu Shagari Way, Central District Abuja.{{Cite web |title=Nigeria {{!}} Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts |url=https://sifocc.org/countries/nigeria/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=sifocc.org}}
Overview
The Federal High Court was formerly called the Federal Revenue Court and was established by the Federal Revenue Act of 1973.{{Cite web |title=Federal High Court Act |url=http://www.commonlii.org/ng/legis/num_act/fhca165/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=www.commonlii.org}} However, by virtue of section 228(1) and 230 (2) of the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it was renamed, Federal High Court.{{Cite web |title=jurisdiction |url=https://www.nextfhc.fhc.gov.ng/jurisdiction |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=www.nextfhc.fhc.gov.ng}} The Federal High Court has both criminal and civil jurisdiction over matter instituted before it pursuant to section 251 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).{{Cite web |date=2021-02-20 |title=OVERVIEW OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT IN NIGERIA |url=http://www.resolutionlawng.com/overview-of-the-jurisdiction-of-the-federal-high-court-in-nigeria/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Resolution law firm |language=en-US}}
Structure and Organization
The Federal High Court is composed of the Chief Judge and such number of judges as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.{{Cite web |last=Src='https://Secure.gravatar.com/Avatar/6a66b3935161f734080a41492192a7bc?s=90 |first= |first5=#038;r=g 2x' Class='avatar Avatar-90 Photo' Height='90' |title=Chapter 7, Section 249 - Establishment of the Federal High Court |url=https://nigerian-constitution.com/chapter-7-part-1-section-249-establishment-of-the-federal-high-court/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=nigerian-constitution.com |language=en-US}} Judges of the FHC are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, and subject to confirmation by the Senate.{{Cite web |title=National Judicial Council |url=https://njc.gov.ng/composition-of-NJC |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=njc.gov.ng}} To qualify for the post of a Chief Judge or judges of the Federal High Court, such a person must have been qualified to practice law in Nigeria, and must have been so qualified for a period not less than ten years. The retirement age for Judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria is 70 years.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-30 |title=NASS mulls extending retirement age of Supreme Court justices |url=https://guardian.ng/news/nass-mulls-extending-retirement-age-of-supreme-court-justices-to-75-years/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}
As at December, 2021, the total number of Federal High Court judges in the country stood at 75.{{Cite web |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/501271-federal-high-court-with-75-judges-has-128000-pending-cases-chief-judge.html?tztc=1 |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=www.premiumtimesng.com}} Meanwhile, the total number of cases across the various judicial division was 128,000{{Cite web |date=2021-12-17 |title=Federal High Court with 75 judges has 128,000 pending cases - Chief Judge {{!}} Premium Times Nigeria |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/501271-federal-high-court-with-75-judges-has-128000-pending-cases-chief-judge.html |access-date=2022-04-12 |language=en-GB}}
List of Judicial Divisions
Although, the court is headquartered in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, it has several judicial divisions around the country.{{Cite web |title=:: About Federal High Court Nigeria :: |url=https://www.fhc-ng.com/about.htm |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=www.fhc-ng.com |archive-date=2021-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611213655/https://www.fhc-ng.com/about.htm |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=List of Nigeria Federal High Court Divisions Headquarters - Finelib.com |url=https://www.finelib.com/judiciary/federal-high-court-divisions |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=www.finelib.com}} These are:
- Federal High Court, Abuja (Headquarters)
- Federal High Court, Abakaliki
- Federal High Court, Abeokuta
- Federal High Court, Akure
- Federal High Court, Ado- Ekiti
- Federal High Court, Awka
- Federal High Court, Asaba
- Federal High Court, Bauchi
- Federal High Court, Yenegao
- Federal High Court, Benin
- Federal High Court Calabar
- Federal High Court, Damaturu
- Federal High Court, Dutse
- Federal High Court, Enugu
- Federal High Court, Gombe
- Federal High Court, Ibadan
- Federal High Court, Ikeja
- Federal High Court, IIorin
- Federal High Court, Jos
- Federal High Court, Kaduna
- Federal High Court, Kano
- Federal High Court, Lafia
- Federal High Court, Lagos
- Federal High Court, Maiduguri
- Federal High Court, Markurdi
- Federal High Court, Minna
- Federal High Court, Oshogbo
- Federal High Court, Port Harcourt
- Federal High Court, Owerri
- Federal High Court, Sokoto
- Federal High Court, Umuahia
- Federal High Court, Warri