LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ON NIGERIAN CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

The effective administration of justice in Nigeria is fundamentally reliant on the functionality and efficiency of the case management system employed by the judiciary. This paper examined the legal and institutional framework that underpins case management in the Nigerian court system, particularly the role of the court registry in ensuring the swift and fair dispensation of justice. It evaluates the statutory and procedural rules, including the Supreme Court Rules (1985), Court of Appeal Rules (2021), and various High Court and Magistrate Court Civil Procedure Rules, which form the backbone of judicial case management. Despite the existence of these rules, the implementation of case management practices in court registries remains inconsistent across jurisdictions. The research adopts a doctrinal legal methodology supported by a qualitative analysis of case law and court rules. Findings reveal a gradual institutionalization of case management but highlight significant operational gaps in registry practices and judicial oversight. The paper concluded by recommending institutional reforms and capacity-building measures to entrench case management as a practical tool for enhancing justice delivery.