The Federal High Court (FHC) has officially announced the implementation of its electronic filing system at the Lagos Division, scheduled to begin operations on Monday, June 23, 2025.
According to a circular issued by the Chief Registrar of the FHC, Sulaiman Amida Hassan, the traditional manual filing process for new cases at the Lagos Division will cease on Friday, June 20, 2025.
The Chief Registrar clarified that existing cases filed before the e-filing system's launch will continue to be processed manually until they reach final disposition.
Requirements and Penalties
The court has issued a stern warning against legal practitioners who might attempt to understate claims or misrepresent documentation, as such actions could affect the accurate calculation of filing fees.
"Any such infractions, whether intentional or inadvertent, will attract a penalty of N10,000 per filing in addition to the outstanding balance," the circular stated.
To access the e-filing platform, all legal practitioners must possess a valid Legal Mail account, which is now mandatory for electronic submissions. Law firms are also required to upload documentation related to their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration when creating their chambers' profiles on the system.
Training Sessions
To ensure smooth transition to the new system, the court has organized a two-day hands-on training session scheduled between June 16 and 20. These sessions aim to familiarize practitioners with the platform's functionality and compliance procedures.
The Federal High Court strongly encourages full adherence to the new protocols to facilitate a seamless and effective rollout of the e-filing system, which represents a significant step toward digitizing Nigeria's judicial processes.
This development aligns with global trends in judicial modernization and is expected to enhance efficiency in case management while reducing paperwork and physical visits to court premises.
Follow BenriNews on Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | WhatsApp | Telegram for more updates.
