Order 14 Supreme Court Rules

Order 14 of the Supreme Court Rules 2024 is about Fast Track Criminal Appeals. It contains the following rules:

Order 14 Rule 1 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Application

(1) This Order shall, save to the extern and as may otherwise be ordered by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, apply to:

(a) Criminal Appeals, relating to the offences of Terrorism. Rape, Kidnapping, Corruption, Money Laundering and Human Trafficking: and

(b) Interlocutory Applications in relation Io cases listed in sub-rule (1)(a) of this Rule.

Order 14 Rule 2 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Service of process

(1) A party shall not serve a notice of an application on another party on the date scheduled for the hearing of die Appeal.

(2) A notice of Preliminary’ Objection, must be served not later than seven (7) days prior to the date scheduled for the hearing of the appeal.

(3) To ensure speedy dispensation of justice, e-mail and other electronic means may be employed by the Court to inform counsel of the hearing or other sittings by the Court.
Provided that such notification shall be given at least forty-eight (48) hours before the scheduled Court date.

(4) In line with the provision of Rules 2 (3) of this Order, parties are expected to furnish the Court Registrar with telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of themselves and their Counsel.

Order 14 Rule 3 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Compilation and transmission of records

(1) In any appeal particularly those relating to the offences of terrorism, Rape, Kidnapping, Corruption, Money Laundering and Human Trafficking, the Registrar of the Court below shall, not later thar. fifteen (15) days after the filing of the Notice of Appeal, compile and transmit the Record of Appeal to the Court.

(2) In any appeal in respect of matters listed in Rule 1(1) (a) of this Order, the Registrar of the Court below shall not later than fifteen (15) days after filing of a notice of Appeal, with the assistance of the Appellant, compile and transmit the Records of Appeal to the Court.

(3) Pursuant to Rule 3 (2) of this Order, the Registrar of the Court below shall within seven (7) days summon the parties before him to:
(a) Settle the documents to be included in the Record of Appeal; and
(b) fix the amount to be deposited by the Appellant to cover the estimated cost of compiling and forwarding the Record of Appeal to the Court.

(4) Where at the expiration of fifteen (15) days after the filing of the Notice of Appeal, the Registrar has failed or neglected to compile and transmit the Record of Appeal in accordance with the provisions of this Rule, it shall become mandatory for the Appellant to compile the Record, all documents and exhibits necessary for his Appeal and transmit same to the Court within fifteen (15) days after the Registrar’s failure or neglect.

(5) The Record compiled by the Appellant pursuant to Rule 3 (4) of this Order, shall be served on the Respondent within fifteen (15) days.

(6) Where the Respondent considers that there is additional Record which may be necessary in disposing of the Appeal, he shall be at liberty to, within five (5) days of the service on him of the Record, compile and transmit to the Court such record to be known as the Additional Record of Appeal.

Order 14 Rule 4 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Amendment of Notice of Appeal

(1) A Notice of Appeal may be amended by or with the leave of the of notice of Court at any time before Judgment.

Provided that any application or appeal in respect of:
(a) all criminal appeals, particularly those relating to the offences of Terrorism, Rape, Kidnapping, Corruption, Money Laundering and Human Trafficking; and
(b) Interlocutory applications and appeals challenging the ruling of the Court below on an interlocutory application heard in the Court below, such application for amendment should not be taken on the day scheduled for hearing of the appeal, without the leave of the Court.

(2) The Court shall not permit more than two amendments per party in the case of matters falling under interlocutory applications and appeals challenging the ruling of the Court below on an interlocutory application in the Court below.

Order 14 Rule 5 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Brief of argument

(1) The Appellant shall within ten (10) days of the receipt of the Record of Appeal from the Court below file in the Court a written brief of argument in the Appeal.

(2) The Respondent shall within seven (7) days of the service on him of die brief of argument for the Appellant, file the Respondent’s brief of argument which shall be duly endorsed with an address or addresses for service which must include electronic mail or telephone numbers.

(3) The Respondent’s brief of argument shall, in accordance with established Rules of Court, answer all material points of substance contained in the Appellant’s brief of argument and contain all points raised therein which the Respondent wishes to concede as well as reasons why the appeal ought to be dismissed.

(4) The Appellant may file a Reply brief of argument not later than three (3) days after service on him with the Respondent’s brief of argument.

Order 14 Rule 6 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Hearing of interlocutory appeals

(1) In the determination of the Appeal arising from interlocutory decisions of the Court below in all criminal appeals relating to the offences of Terrorism, Rape, Kidnapping, Corruption, Money Laundering and Human Trafficking, the Court shall give priority to those matters and where possible, hear such matters on a day to day basis until final determination.

(2) Without prejudice to any of the foregoing, the Court may refuse to hear an appeal arising from any interlocutory decision of the Court below where the matters deal with any criminal Appeal relating to the offence of Terrorism, Rape, Kidnapping, Corruption, Money Laundering and Human Trafficking, and the Court is of the opinion that the ground(s) raised in the appeal are such that the Court can conveniently determine by way of appeal arising from the judgment of the Court below on the substantive matters.