In a significant move aimed at modernizing the administration of justice and enhancing efficiency in judicial processes, the Federal High Court (FHC) has officially announced the introduction of its new electronic filing (e-filing) system. The digital platform is scheduled to go live on Monday, June 23, 2025, starting with the Lagos Division of the Court.
This development was formally communicated in a circular issued by the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Mr. Sulaiman Amida, who outlined key directives and timelines for the rollout of the new system. According to the circular, manual filing of new cases in the Lagos Division will be discontinued effective Friday, June 20, 2025. Legal practitioners and litigants are therefore advised to complete all manual filings before this cutoff date.
Importantly, the Chief Registrar clarified that cases already filed prior to the commencement of the e-filing regime will continue to be processed using the traditional/manual method until their final conclusion. This transitional arrangement is intended to ensure procedural consistency and avoid disruption to ongoing matters.
The circular further emphasized the importance of accurate claim submissions in the e-filing process. Litigants and legal representatives were cautioned against providing incorrect or misleading information—particularly with respect to the value of claims, which directly affects the calculation of filing fees. Any such misrepresentation, whether deliberate or inadvertent*, will attract a penalty fee of ₦10,000 per filing, in addition to the payment of any outstanding balance on the appropriate filing fees.
As part of the prerequisites for using the e-filing platform, legal practitioners are required to obtain a Legal Mail account, which will serve as the official communication and filing channel with the court. Additionally, law firms are expected to submit Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration documents to create and authenticate their official chamber profiles on the platform.
To ensure a smooth transition and full compliance with the new filing protocol, the FHC has organized a two-day intensive training session, scheduled to hold between June 16 and June 20, 2025. This training is designed to familiarize legal professionals with the new system, provide hands-on demonstrations, and address potential challenges that may arise during implementation.
The Federal High Court has enjoined all members of the legal profession to embrace the e-filing initiative and ensure strict adherence to its procedures. The Court reiterated that the digitization of case filing is a strategic step towards improving access to justice, reducing administrative delays, and aligning with global best practices in judicial service delivery.
