The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, announced on Monday that the Supreme Court delivered 411 judgments during the 2025/2026 legal year, having handled a total of 2,456 matters. This announcement was made during a special session marking the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year in Abuja.

Justice Kekere-Ekun detailed the breakdown of the cases, which included 1,179 general civil motions, 573 criminal motions, 13 Sharia-related motions, and 676 appeals. The appeals comprised 433 general civil appeals, 212 criminal appeals, 19 political appeals, 12 Sharia appeals, and 10 originating summons. In comparison, the previous legal year saw the court manage 2,280 matters and deliver 369 judgments and rulings.

While acknowledging the court's performance as encouraging, the Chief Justice emphasized that there remains significant work ahead. She pointed out that the statistics reflect only a portion of the court's activities, underscoring the need for continued improvement in its operations.

Kekere-Ekun elaborated on the court's efforts to enhance efficiency through effective docket management. Notably, the court's E-Diary Office scheduled 1,385 matters for regular sittings between March 23 and December 17, 2026. This schedule included 1,021 motions and 364 appeals, with 733 of these being older cases that were prioritized for hearing.

In addition, the Chief Justice reported that 178 moribund matters were disposed of in Chambers, and 125 concluded matters were removed from the active list. These initiatives reflect a strategic approach to managing the court's docket, focusing on addressing delays and the backlog of cases.

Justice Kekere-Ekun stated, "These measures reflect a more deliberate approach to managing our docket. The work of the E-Diary Office is therefore an important part of our continuing effort to make the Court more efficient, responsive and better able to meet the expectations of litigants."

The Supreme Court's commitment to improving its operations is evident as it strives to ensure justice is delivered in a timely manner, meeting the needs of all stakeholders involved in the legal process.