Quick Summary:
Federal High Court ends manual filing April 24, launches e-filing system in Lagos Division to enhance efficiency and digital access.
The Federal High Court of Nigeria has announced that it will formally terminate manual case filing on April 24, 2026, as part of efforts to embrace advanced technology in judicial processes.
According to a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Acting Chief Registrar, Mr. Yahaya Yakubu Shafa, a pilot electronic filing (e-filing) platform will become operational in the Lagos Judicial Division starting April 27, 2026.
Transition Guidelines For Legal Practitioners
The court clarified that all cases filed before the go-live date will continue to be processed manually until judgment is delivered and the matters are fully disposed of.
To ensure a smooth transition, all legal practitioners must obtain their legal mail accounts before the launch date, as this will be a mandatory requirement for accessing the e-filing system.
Shafa added that documents requiring oath administration must also be processed through the e-affidavit platform, though deponents must still appear physically before a Commissioner for Oaths for the oath-taking process.
Registration And Training Requirements
Each law firm or chambers will be required to upload Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration documents when creating their profiles on the e-filing platform.
The court also announced a two-day interactive training session on the new system, scheduled for the week of April 20–24, 2026, to familiarize practitioners with the platform’s operations.
The statement urged all legal practitioners to ensure strict compliance with the new digital filing procedures.
