Last Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in one of the most momentous events in the history of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), the President of the NICN, Hon. Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, OFR, PhD, FNIALS, played host to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON; President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, CFR; former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Nigeria, Judges and distinguished legal practitioners, as the new NICN Ultramodern Court Complex at its Headquarters in Abuja, FCT was cmmissioned. The two-day event marked the beginning of the NICN’s 2026/2027 Legal Year, the commissioning of the new Headquarters, and the Bar and Bench Forum. Onikepo Braithwaite, Jude Igbanoi and Alex Enumah report on the various activities New Legal Year The programme commenced with the New Legal Year Ceremonies, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, with President of the NICN, Hon. Justice Benedict Kanyip, playing host. The triple event was planned to herald the 2026/2027 Legal Year of the Court. Excerpts of the President of NICN’s Welcome Address In his welcome address, Justice Kanyip highlighted the challenges and humble achievements of the court since its inception in 1976, culminating in its re-establishment as a superior court of record in 2006. Justice Kanyip said “In September 2019, shortly before I took over the reins of leadership of the Court, my predecessor, Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR, presently the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), oversaw the commissioning, by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, of the Annex Building of the Headquarters, from where we are moving to the main building. “Today’s event started 16 years ago, when on March 10, 2010, the project site for the Headquarters was handed over to the contractor, and on May 17, 2010 excavation work commenced. When the directive was given that all Government agencies must move to Abuja, the land we presently stand on was where the Court of Appeal moved from, and we were graciously given the building on this land that it left behind. In the wisdom of my predecessor, it was better to have a new building, given that the building left behind suffered from structural problems. And, so the journey to today started. And, here, I must thanks to my predecessor. “What we have achieved today is not just an amazing feat, but a milestone in the annals of the Nigerian Judiciary. It is, therefore, with profound gratitude to God Almighty, a deep sense of honour and privilege, and immense joy, that I stand today to welcome you to this historic occasion of the commissioning of the new Headquarters of the NICN by no less than His Lordship Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, the Honorable Chief Justice of Nigeria. “Given thus our very humble background, institutionally, we have come of age in the ramifications expected of a court of law, equity and justice. Today represents for us progress, growth, resilience and the collective determination to build a stronger, more efficient and more responsive justice system for our nation. “On behalf of the Honourable Judges, Management and entire staff of the Court, I warmly welcome you, our distinguished guests, to this historic occasion. “And so, today, we not only commission a physical structure made of concrete, steel and glass, but we celebrate an institution, a vision, the growth of a specialised Court whose mandate has become increasingly important to the peace, stability and economic development of our dear country. “Labour is not just a critical factor of production, it is central to economic development. The establishment of specialised labour disputes prevention and resolution institutions is enjoined on Member States by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), given that access to labour justice is a core labour right and part of the decent work agenda promoted by the ILO. The NICN as a specialised Court meets this ILO expectation.” The NICN Headquarters with its annex, now boasts of 10 court rooms and an equal number of Chamber for its Judged. Justice Kanyip gave special recognition to Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, under whose tenure as AGF the court was allocated the land its presently occupies. Hon. Justice Benedict Kanyip stated that: “I am pleased to report that through the dedication of our Judges, we achieved a significant increase in case disposal rates compared to previous years. Over the past twelve months, a total of 2,236 cases were disposed of across our Judicial Divisions, significantly cutting down our historic backlog”. He said the court remains committed to accessibility, professionalism and the use of innovation and technology where necessary. “In the outgone legal year, our Court was inundated with quite a number of cases. Despite the pressure occasione
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.
