Nigeria Court Guide
Understand the Nigerian court hierarchy and find the right court for your matter
Court Hierarchy
Supreme Court
Final court of appeal
Court of Appeal
Intermediate appellate court
High Courts
Federal, State, Industrial, FCT
Specialized Courts
Sharia, Customary, Appeal
Magistrate Courts
Local trial courts
Supreme Court of Nigeria
Highest CourtThree Arms Zone, Abuja
Highest appellate court. Hears final appeals from the Court of Appeal on all matters, including constitutional interpretation.
Court of Appeal
Appellate CourtVarious Judicial Divisions across Nigeria
Hears appeals from the Federal High Court, State High Courts, National Industrial Court, and other tribunals.
Federal High Court
High CourtAll State Capitals
Federal matters including revenue, taxation, customs, intellectual property, admiralty, banking, and election petitions.
State High Court
High CourtEach State Capital
Unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction over state matters. Hears constitutional matters at first instance.
National Industrial Court
Specialized CourtAbuja + 13 Judicial Divisions
Exclusive jurisdiction over labour, employment, trade unions, industrial relations, and workplace disputes.
Sharia Court of Appeal
Specialized CourtNorthern States
Hears appeals on Islamic personal law matters including marriage, divorce, inheritance, and family issues.
Customary Court of Appeal
Specialized CourtSelected States
Hears appeals on customary law matters including marriage, land, inheritance, and family disputes under native law.
Magistrate/District Courts
Lower CourtLocal Government Areas nationwide
Summary offences, preliminary hearings in criminal cases, small claims civil matters, and juvenile cases.
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