Order 1 Supreme Court Rules

Order 1 of the Supreme Court Rules 2024 is about General Definitions. It contains the following rules:

Order 1 Rule 1 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Short title

These Rules may be cited as the Supreme Court Rules. 2024 and shall come into force by notification in the official Gazette.

Order 1 Rule 2 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Repeal

The Supreme Court Rules, 1985 are repealed.

Order 1 Rule 3 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Interpretations

In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires –

“Act” means Supreme Court Act, Cap S15 Laws of The Federation 2004. or any other Act amending or replacing it;

“Appeal” means entry of Appeal after the record of appeal has been transmitted from the Court below;

”Appellant” means a party appealing from a decision or applying for leave on behalf thereof and includes the Legal Practitioner retained or assigned to represent him in the proceedings before the Court;

“Applicant” means any person who makes an application to the Court for an order;

“Bailiff” means a person authorised to serve Court processes and carry out such other function(s) as the Court may, from time to time, assign to him. and includes any special Bailiff appointed by the Court;

“Cause” includes any action, suit or other proceedings between an Appellant and a Respondent or any Applicant and a Respondent; or between a Plaintiff and a Defendant when the original jurisdiction of the Court is invoked.

“Chief Justice” means the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN); or a Justice of the Supreme Court for the time being acting for him or in his stead.
(a) “Presiding Justice” means any Justice of the Supreme Court duly assigned by the Chief Justice to preside over the Court Sitting;
(b) “Justice” means a Justice of the Supreme Court;

“Chief Registrar” means the Chief Registrar of the Court;
(a) “Registrar” means any other Officer of the Court (by whatever title called) exercising the functions of the Chief Registrar.
(b) “Registrar of the Court below” means the Chief Registrar or other administrative staff (howsoever called) of that Court or any other Court or Tribunal whose decision is subject to appeal to the Supreme Court.

“Committee” means the Rules of Court Advisory Committee established under these Rules;

“Constitution” means the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and includes any amendment thereto or modification thereof or any enactment replacing it;

“Court” means the Supreme Court of Nigeria, –
(a) “Court below” means the Court of Appeal or any other Court or Tribunal whose decision is subject to appeal to the Supreme Court.
(b) “Court in chambers” means Court sitting without Lega) Practitioner where oral hearing is not required.
(c) “Court of first instance” means any court or tribunal sitting either in its original or appellate jurisdiction, immediately below the Court below.
(d) “Court sitting” includes physical and virtual sitting of the Court:
(i) “Virtual hearing” means proceedings of the Court conducted electronically or through the use of electronic or audio-visual means.