Lagos Magistrates Court Jurisdiction ₦25m: Assembly Bill to Raise Limit

• The Lagos State House of Assembly plans to amend the Magistrates’ Court Law of Lagos State 2015.
• The proposed amendment seeks to raise the civil jurisdiction of Magistrates' Courts from ₦10 million to ₦25 million.
• The Assembly has invited the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikorodu Branch, to a stakeholders' meeting on September 2, 2026, to discuss the bill.
• This Lagos civil jurisdiction limit increase could significantly alter case filing strategies for lawyers and impact court caseloads.

Lawyers in Lagos must closely monitor this development, as it will necessitate a re-evaluation of case filing strategies and forum selection for claims that previously would have been exclusively heard at the High Court level.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has initiated steps to significantly increase the civil jurisdiction of Magistrates' Courts within the state, proposing an amendment that would raise the monetary limit from ₦10 million to ₦25 million. This potential change is encapsulated in a new Lagos State House of Assembly bill, which seeks to revise the existing Magistrates’ Court Law of Lagos State 2015.

To deliberate on this crucial legislative proposal, the Assembly has extended an invitation to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu Branch, for a dedicated one-day stakeholders' meeting. The official invitation, bearing the reference LSHA/LM/C/484/991, was dispatched on September 2, 2026, signaling the legislative body's intent to gather input on the proposed amendments and other connected purposes related to the law.

The current legal framework, established by the Lagos Magistrates Court Law 2015, sets the civil jurisdiction limit for Magistrates' Courts at ₦10 million. This threshold dictates the maximum monetary value of claims that can be adjudicated at this level of the judiciary. Any claims exceeding this amount typically fall under the purview of the High Court, which possesses broader jurisdiction.

The proposed Lagos civil jurisdiction limit increase to ₦25 million represents a substantial adjustment, more than doubling the current ceiling. Such an amendment to the Magistrates’ Court Law 2015 would redefine the scope of cases handled by these lower courts, potentially easing the caseload burden on higher courts and offering a more accessible forum for a wider range of civil disputes.

The potential elevation of the Lagos Magistrates Court jurisdiction to ₦25 million carries significant implications for legal practitioners and litigants across the state. Lawyers in Lagos must closely monitor this development, as it will necessitate a re-evaluation of case filing strategies and forum selection for claims that previously would have been exclusively heard at the High Court level. The shift from a ₦10m to ₦25m jurisdiction could streamline the judicial process for many civil matters, potentially leading to quicker resolutions and reduced litigation costs.

This proposed change means that a greater number of commercial and civil disputes, particularly those valued between ₦10 million and ₦25 million, could now be initiated in the Magistrates' Courts. This expansion of the Lagos Magistrates Court jurisdiction ₦25m could impact the overall efficiency of the justice system, making it more accessible for citizens and businesses to resolve disputes within this financial bracket. The Nigerian Bar Association Lagos meeting will be a critical forum for stakeholders to discuss these potential impacts and contribute to the final shape of the Lagos State House of Assembly bill.

Lawyers in Lagos must monitor the proposed increase in Magistrates' Court civil jurisdiction to ₦25m, as it will significantly alter case filing strategies and forum selection for claims previously exclusive to the High Court, potentially impacting litigation costs and timelines.

Source: Original reporting via TheNigeriaLawyer