The Federal High Court has set Friday as the deadline for manual filing by litigants.

In a press statement seen by CITY LAWYER and signed by the court’s Acting Chief Registrar, Yahaya Yakubu Shafa, the court stated that “the electronic filing (e-filing) platform shall become operational in the Lagos Judicial Division with effect from 27th April, 2026.”

Below is the full text of the press statement.

PRESS RELEASE

FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA
LAGOS DIVISION
NOTICE TO LEGAL PRACTITIONERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC

The Federal High Court of Nigeria hereby formally notifies all Legal Practitioners and the general public that the electronic filing (e-filing) platform shall become operational in the Lagos Judicial Division with effect from 27th April, 2026.

Accordingly, the final date for the manual filing of new cases in the Lagos Division shall be 24th April, 2026. Thereafter, all new filings must be conducted exclusively through the e-filing platform.

All matters instituted prior to the go-live date shall continue to be processed manually until judgment is delivered and such matters are finally disposed of.

Legal Practitioners are hereby advised that any person who, whether deliberately or inadvertently, understates the amount claimed or inaccurately declares the number or nature of documents filed thereby resulting in an under-assessment of the prescribed filing fees shall be required to pay the outstanding balance in addition to a penalty of Ten Thousand Naira (₦10,000) per filing.

To ensure a seamless transition, all Legal Practitioners are required to obtain their Legal Mail accounts prior to the go live date, as possession of a Legal Mail address is a mandatory prerequisite for access to the e-filing platform. Applications for Legal Mail accounts can be made via: https://nigerianbar.ng.

All documents requiring oath administration must be processed through the e-Affidavit platform (https://affidavit.courts.gov.ng). Notwithstanding this, the deponent must physically appear before a Commissioner for Oaths for the administration of the oath.

Furthermore, every Law Firm/Chambers shall be required to upload all relevant registration documents issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) when creating their profile on the e-filing platform.

Instructional videos providing detailed guidance on the use of the e-filing system are available on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@JITPO-Com. These materials will also be disseminated via designated Lawyers’ WhatsApp platforms.

In addition, a two-day interactive training session on the e-filing system shall be held within the week of 20th to 24th April, 2026. The exact date, time, and venue shall be communicated in due course.

All Legal Practitioners are hereby enjoined to be guided accordingly and to ensure strict compliance.

Signed:
Yahaya Yakubu Shafa, FCARB
Acting Chief Registrar
Federal High Court of Nigeria.

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