The Federal High Court of Nigeria has announced that its electronic filing, e-filing, system will take effect in the Lagos Judicial Division from April 27, 2026.
According to the court, April 24, 2026, has been set as the deadline for manual submission of new cases in the Lagos Division. After this date, all fresh filings must be carried out exclusively through the e-filing platform.
The court clarified that cases instituted before the rollout date will continue to be handled manually until they are concluded and judgments delivered.
The Acting Chief Registrar, Yahaya Yakubu Shafa, in a statement warned legal practitioners against under-declaring claims or misrepresenting filed documents to reduce filing fees.
“Legal practitioners are hereby advised that any person who, whether deliberately or inadvertently, understates the amount claimed or inaccurately declares the number or nature of documents filed, thereby resulting in an under-assessment of the prescribed filing fees, shall be required to pay the outstanding balance in addition to a penalty of N10,000 per filing,” the statement read.
To facilitate a smooth transition, the court directed all legal practitioners to obtain Legal Mail accounts before the commencement date, noting that such accounts are mandatory for accessing the e-filing platform.
“Applications for Legal Mail accounts can be made via: https://nigerianbar.ng,” the statement added.
The court further stated that all documents requiring oath administration must be processed through the e-Affidavit platform, although deponents are still required to appear physically before a Commissioner for Oaths.
It also directed law firms and chambers to upload relevant registration documents issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission when setting up profiles on the platform.
Instructional materials, including tutorial videos on how to use the e-filing system, have been made available online to guide users.
The court urged all legal practitioners to comply fully with the new system to ensure a seamless transition.
Federal High Court introduces e-filing in Lagos from April 27
