Order 2 Supreme Court Rules

Order 2 of the Supreme Court Rules 2024 is about Administration. It contains the following rules:

Order 2 Rule 1 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Chief Registrar

The Chief Registrar shall have custody of the records of the Court both physical and electronic, and shall exercise such other functions as are assigned to him by these Rules and by such directions as the Chief Justice may give from time to time.

Order 2 Rule 2 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Other Registrars

The Chief Justice may assign, and the Chief Registrar may, with the approval of the Chief Justice, delegate to any Registrar of the Court any function required by these Rules to be exercised by the Chief Registrar.

Order 2 Rule 3 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Powers of the Chief Registrar

Except as may be otherwise provided in the Constitution or in any other enactment, the Chief Registrar shall have such powers and duties as are given him by these Rules or such further powers and duties as the Chief Justice may direct.

Order 2 Rule 4 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Seal of the Court

The Court shall have and use, as the occasion may require, a seal having a device or impression approved by the Chief Justice and bearing the inscription “The Supreme Court of Nigeria” or an electronic version of it.

Order 2 Rule 5 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Custody of the Seal

The Seal of the Court, both physical and electronic versions, shall be kept in the custody of the Chief Justice who may entrust same or a duplicate or electronic version of it to such officers) of the Court as the Chief Justice may deem fit.

Order 2 Rule 6 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Books to be kept by the Registrar

(1) The Chief Registrar shall keep the following books –
(a) a Criminal Appeal Book in physical and electronic form;
(b) a Civil Appeal Book in physical and electronic form;
(c) a Civil Record Book in physical and electronic form; and
(d) a Criminal Record Book in physical and electronic form;
each of which shall contain an index in alphabetical order.

(2) The following particulars shall be entered in the Criminal Appeal Book, and the Civil Appeal Book:
(a) the number of the appeal or application;
(b) the names of the Appellant or Applicant and Respondent;
(c) the Court from which the appeal is brought and the date of its judgment;
(d) the names of Counsel;
(e) the subject matter of the appeal or application;
(f) the date, place and mode of hearing of Appeal;
(g) the judgment of the Court; and
(h) any subsequent proceedings and remarks.

(3) file following particulars shall be entered in the Civil Record Book:
(a) the number of the application;
(b) the names of parties;
(c) the date and place of hearing of the case;
(d) the names of Counsel;
(e) the subject matter of the application;
(f) the judgment of the Court; and
(g) any subsequent proceedings and remarks.

Order 2 Rule 7 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Files of documents

(1) As soon as the Notice of Appeal or a suit invoking the original jurisdiction of the Court is filed, the Registrar shall prepare a file in which pleadings or documents relating to the appeal or suit shall be contained and on the front page thereof, he shall record particulars of such pleadings or documents and the dates on which they are received.

(2) The Registrar shall furnish within fifteen (15) days to the Electronic Unit of the Registry of the Court, copies of the filed processes in an appeal or a suit to enable the Electronic Unit prepare an electronic file in which filed processes and documents relating to the appeal shall be uploaded and stored for access by the Justices of the Court.

Order 2 Rule 8 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Setting aside or varying order of Registrar

Any person aggrieved by any act or order of any Registrar and who intends to have the act or order complained of set aside or varied, may write to the Chief Registrar of the Court, setting out the complaint, the ground for the complaint the relief sought and the Chief Registrar shall deal with the complaint administratively.

Order 2 Rule 9 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Hours of opening the registry

The Registry’ of the Court shall, subject to the directions of the Chief Hours of Justice, be open every day in the year from 8 o’clock in the forenoon, to 4 o’clock in the afternoon, except on Saturdays and Sundays or on any day declared a public holiday by the Government of the Federation:

Provided that for the filling of processes by electronic or other means, the Registry shall remain open every day including holidays.

Order 2 Rule 10 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Publication of cause list

The Registrar shall on every Friday, publish a weekly cause list, on the official Notice Board of the Court and on the official website of the Court, which shall set out the arrangement of fixture of causes for hearing on each day during the following week.

Order 2 Rule 11 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Notification of sittings

The sittings of the Court and the matters to be disposed of at such sittings shall be communicated to the parties through their addresses for service; and such communication may be by the use of the physical and electronic addresses, available to the Court:

Provided that the Court may in its discretion hear any appeal and deal with any other matter, whether or not same has been published by the Registrar.

Order 2 Rule 12 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Adjournments

The Court may. at any time, on application by any party, or of its Adjournments, own motion, adjourn any proceedings pending before it from time to time and from place to place.

Order 2 Rule 13 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Sessions and appearance of Counsel at sessions

(1) Sessions of the Court shall be convened and constituted and the time, venue and forum for all sessions and for hearing interlocutory applications shall be settled in accordance with directions to be given by the Chief Justice.

(2) The Court shall regulate the number of Counsel who may appear before it in any matter:

Provided that –
(a) a Senior Advocate of Nigeria shall not appear with more than five (5) Counsel.
(b) where more than one Senior Advocate of Nigeria appears for the same party in a matter, such number of Counsel in (hat matter shall act exceed eight (8) inclusive of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
(c) other Learned Counsel shall not appear with more than four (4) junior Counsel.

Order 2 Rule 14 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Application of this Order

Except as otherwise stated in this Order, or the context so implies, this Order shall apply to ail matters whether civil or criminal.