Appeal backlog of over 2,000 cases set for clearance

The Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court has begun a major initiative to reduce a backlog of more than 2,000 appeals and applications filed between January 1996 and December 2024.
In a press release, the court said the exercise aims to ensure the “timely, fair and transparent administration of justice.”
The court has been divided into three panels, each assigned 70 cases in the first tranche, comprising 21 civil appeals, 20 criminal appeals, and 29 applications for leave to appeal or extensions of time. Civil appeals are scheduled to be heard on February 10, 12, and 13, 2026, starting at 9:30 a.m. each day.
Applications filed between January 2021 and December 2025 will also be processed, and cases filed in 2026 will be assigned continuously to avoid future backlogs. The panels will also review more recently filed appeals to maintain a manageable caseload.
The press release emphasised that the process is court-driven and guided by case management principles, with all attorneys and litigants expected to be prepared to assist panels so cases can be concluded efficiently.
Hearing notices will be sent to litigants and attorneys and published in newspapers, on the court’s website under ‘Hearing Lists,’ and on the official Facebook page.