Constitution of Nigeria

Court of Appeal
High Courts

Home Page

Law Reporting

Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
Legal Education
Q&A
Supreme Court
Jobs at Nigeria-law

 

S.I. 11 of 2002

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999

The Court of Appeal Rules, 2002

 

 

 

 

Contents

 

 

Order I

General

 

1.

Short title

2

Interpretation

3

Service

4.

Conflict with State Law or Rules

5.

Fees

6.

Registries and Filing of documents and proceedings

7.

Hours of opening to public

8.

Sessions

9.

Notification of sittings

10.

Adjournment

11.

Chief Registrar

12.

Other Registrars

13.

Seal of the Court

14.

Powers of the Chief Registrar

15.

Books to be kept by Registrar

16.

Files for documents

17.

Setting aside or varying order of Registrar

18.

Forms

19.

General Powers of the Court

20.

Powers of the Court as to new trial

21.

Control of proceedings during pendency of appeal.

 

 

Order 2

References as to Constitution and Reserved Points of Law

 

 

1.

Stating a Case

2

Signature of a Case stated

3

Form of Case stated

4.

Right of Audience

 

 

Order 3

Civil Appeals

 

 

1.

Application

2

Notice and grounds of appeal

3

Applications to the Court

4.

Enlargement of time

5.

When Appeal is deemed brought

6.

Notice of Appeal : on whom served

7.

Address for service

8.

Registrar’s Summons

9.

Record of Appeal

10.

Cost of Records

11.

Security for Costs

12.

Additional Security for costs

13.

Transmission of records

14.

Respondent’s Notice of Contention that Judgement should be varied or affirmed on other grounds

15.

Notice of Preliminary Objection

16.

Amendment of Notice of Appeal or Respondent’s notice

17.

Directions of the Court as to Service of Notice of Appeal or Respondent’s Notice

18.

Withdrawal of Appeal

19.

Appeal by Respondent after Appellant’s appeal is withdrawn

20.

Non-compliance with Conditions of Appeal

21.

Exhibits

22.

Interlocutory Judgment not to Prejudice Appeal

23.

Power of Court to give any Judgement and make Order

24.

Declaration by Party not Appearing

25.

Fees

26.

Proceedings by Persons without Means

27.

Cost of proceedings by Persons without Means

28.

Service of record of Appeal to the Supreme Court

29.

Certification of Service and Transmission of Record to the Supreme Court

30.

Death of a party

 

 

Order 4

Criminal Appeals

 

 

1.

Appeals to which Order applies

2.

Applications not Specifically Provided for

3.

Notice of Appeal, and Application for Leave to Appeal, or of Application for Extension of Time and Amendments thereto

4.

Notice of Appeal, etc. who should sign

5.

Application for Extension of Time

6.

Notice of Application for Leave to Appeal

7.

Dealing with Application for Leave to Appeal and Other Preliminary Applications

8.

Forwarding of Proceedings of Court below to Registrar

9.

Fees

10.

Record in Criminal Appeals from Court below in Original Jurisdiction

11.

Record in Criminal Appeals from the Court below in its Appellate Jurisdiction

12.

Report of the Judge of the Court of Trial

13.

Furnishing Judge of Court of Trial with Materials for Report

14.

Bail

15.

Fines

16.

Varying Order of Restitution of Property

17.

Non-suspension or Order of Restitution

18.

Restriction on Issue of Certificate of Conviction

19.

Abandonment of Appeal

20.

Notice of Abandonment of Appeal may be Withdrawn

20(1)

 

20(2)

 

20(3)

20(4)

 

20(5)

20(6)

20(7)

 

20(8)

 

20(9)

 

Attendance of witness before the court

Application to court to hear witnesses

Order appointing examiner

Furnishing examiner with exhibits, etc. for examination

Notification of date of examination

Evidence to be taken on oath

Deposition of witnesses : how to take

Expenses of witnesses before examiner

Presence of parties at examination of witnesses

21

Proceedings on reference

22(1)

22(2)

Notification of final determination of appeal

 

Notification of appeals in capital cases

23

Notification of result of appeal to court below

24.

 

Return of original depositions, etc.

25.

Enforcement of order

26.

Service of record of appeal to the Supreme Court

27.

Certification of service and transmission of record to the Supreme Court

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order 5

Judgement

 

 

1.

Judgment

2

Enrolment of Judgment

3

Review of Judgment

4.

Enforcement of Judgment

5.

Execution of Judgment

6.

Costs

7.

Notification of Judgment

8.

Final disposal of exhibits, documents, etc.

 

 

Order 6

Filing of Briefs of Argument

 

 

1.

Application

2

Filing of Appellant's Brief

3

Forms and Contents of  a Brief

4.

Filing of Respondent's Brief

5.

Filing Reply Brief

6.

Joint and several Briefs

7.

Cross Appeals or Respondent's Notice

8.

Number and Service of Documents

9.

Oral Argument

10.

Consequences of Failure of Filing Briefs

11.

Power of Court to Accelerate Hearing in Exceptional circumstances

 

 

Order 7

Miscellaneous

 

1.

Records of Appeal from Sharia Court of Appeal or Customary Court of Appeal

2

Departure from the Rules

3

Non-compliance with Rules

4.

List of Law Reports, Text books, etc. to be forwarded to the Registrar

5.

Application to strike out

6.

Rules of Court Advisory Committee

7         Practice Direction

 


S.I. 11 of 2002

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999

 

The Court of Appeal Rules, 2002

 

 

In exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Section 248 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999, and by virtue of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I, Umaru Abdullahi, President , Court of Appeal, hereby make the following Rules--

 

 

 

Order I

General

 

 

 

1. -(1)    These Rules may be cited as the Court of Appeal Rules,2002 and shall come into force on 1st April, 2002.

 

 

     (2)     The Court of Appeal Rules,1981 are hereby revoked.

 

 2           In these Rules, unless it is otherwise expressly provided or required by the context :

 

"The Act" means the Court of Appeal Act,

 

"appeal" includes an application for leave to appeal;

 

"appellant" means any person who desires to appeal or appeals from a decision of the Court below or who applies for leave to so appeal, and includes a legal practitioner representing such a person in that behalf;

 

"cause" includes any action suit or other proceeding between an appellant and a respondent or any applicant and a  respondent, and any criminal proceeding;

 

"Chief Registrar" means the Chief Registrar of the Court;

 

"The Committee" means the Rules of Court Advisory Committee established under these rules;

 

"The Constitution" means the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

 

"The Court" means the Court of Appeal;

 

"court below" or "lower court" means any court or tribunal from which appeal is brought;

 

"High Court" means the Federal High Court, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja or any High Court established for a State under the Constitution"

 

"Justice" means a Justice of the Court of Appeal including the President;

 

"legal representative" means a person admitted to practise in the Supreme Court who has been retained by or assigned to a party to represent him in the proceedings before the Court;

 

"President " means the President of the Court;

 

"Presiding Justice" means any Justice of the court duly designated by the President to take charge of a Judicial Division of the Court;

 

"Record" means the aggregate of papers relating to an appeal including the pleadings, proceedings, evidence and judgments proper to be laid before the Court on the hearing of the appeal;

 

"Registrar" means the Chief Registrar, Deputy Chief Registrar, Assistant Chief Registrar, Senior Registrar, or Registrar of the Court, or any other officer of the Court by whatever title called exercising functions analogous to those of a Registrar of the Court;

 

"Registrar of the Court below" includes the Chief Registrar and any Registrar of whatever grade of the court below, and any officer of the court below exercising functions analogous to those of the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, High Court of a State, Sharia Court of Appeal, Customary Court of Appeal or other court or tribunal from which an appeal is brought to the Court:

 

"respondent" in a civil appeal means any party (other than the appellant) directly affected by the appeal ; and in a criminal appeal means the person who undertakes the defence of the judgment appealed against :

 

"Rules" means these Rules or any amendment thereto or any other additional Rules made under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and includes the Fees and Forms as contained in the Schedules to these Rules;

 

"Supreme Court" means the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

 

3.     (1)     Any reference in these Rules to an address for service means an address within the Federal Republic of Nigeria where notices, orders, summonses, warrants and other documents, proceedings, and written communications, if not required to be served personally, may be left, or to which they may be sent.

 

(2)     Where under these Rules any person has given an address for service, any notice or other written communication which is not required to be served personally shall be sufficiently served upon him if  left at that address or sent by registered post to that address ; and in any case where the date of service by post is material section 26 of the Interpretation Act shall apply.

 

(3)     Where under these Rules any notice or other application to the Court, or to the court below, is required to have an address for service endorsed on it, it shall not be deemed to have been properly filed unless such an address is endorsed on it.

 

(4)     Any person desiring to change his address for service shall notify the Registrar, and shall also communicate the new address to all other parties to the suit.

(5)     Where any person has given the address of a legal practitioner as his address for service and the legal practitioner is not or has ceased to be instructed by him for the purpose of the proceedings concerned, it shall be the duty of the legal practitioner to inform the Registrar as soon as may be that he is not or no longer authorised to accept service on behalf of such person, and if he omits to do so he may be ordered to personally pay any costs occasioned thereby.

 

(6)     Except as may be otherwise provided in these Rules or in any other written law, no notice or other written communication in proceedings in the Court need to served personally except the notice of appeal :

 

                  Provided that if the Court is satisfied that the notice of appeal has in fact been communicated to the

 

                 respondent, no objection to the hearing of the appeal shall lie on the ground that the notice of appeal was not

                  served  personally.

 

(7)     Where a Minister or Commissioner, or the Attorney-General, or the Director of Public Prosecutions, or any other public officer, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or of a State thereof is a party ex-officio or as representing the Federal or a State Government, as the case may be, in any proceedings in the Court, whether civil or criminal, any notice or other document may served on him by leaving it at or by sending it by registered post to his chambers or office and service in this manner shall be effective as if it were personal service.

 

(8)     Where any document is required by these Rules to be served personally, it shall be sufficiently served if it is served in the manner prescribed by law for the personal service of a writ of summons issued by the High Court having jurisdiction in the State in which service is to be effected, and if it appears to the Court that for any reason personal service cannot be conveniently effected, the Court shall have the same power as that High Court to direct that service be effected in some other way.

 

(9)     Where any person out of jurisdiction of the Court is a necessary or proper party to an appeal before the Court and it is necessary to serve him with the notice of appeal or other document relating to the appeal, the Court may allow service of the notice of appeal or such other document out of the jurisdiction.

 

(10)           Every application for an order for leave to serve a notice of appeal or other document on a person out of the jurisdiction shall be supported by evidence by affidavit or otherwise showing in what place or country such a person is or probably may be found, and the grounds upon which the application is made.

 

(11)           Any order giving leave to effect service out of the jurisdiction shall prescribe the mode of service, and shall limit a time within which such party may acknowledge such a service, such a time to depend on the place or country where or within which the notice or document is to be served, and the Court may receive an affidavit or statutory declaration of such service having been affected as prima facie evidence thereof.

 

4.              The practice and procedure of the Court shall be as prescribed by these Rules notwithstanding any written law       or  rule of practice to the contrary obtaining in any of the States.

 

5.                The fees set out in the Third Schedule shall be payable in respect of the matters to which they relate.

 

6.     (1)     The Registries of the Court shall be situated at Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan, Benin City, Jos, Port Harcourt   Abuja, Ilorin and Calabar ,and at the seat of such other  Judicial Division of the Court  as may be established.

 

(2)     Except when otherwise expressly provided, all document and proceedings shall be filed in the appropriate Registry, provided that whilst the Court is sitting in any Judicial Division or other place of session any documents or proceedings in connection with a  matter to be dealt with at such branch or other place of session may be filed with Registrar of the Court at such a place.

 

(3)     A document may be filed in the appropriate Registry of the Court or such other place of session either by being delivered there by the party or his legal representative or agent in person or by being sent there by registered post.

 

7.     The Registries of the Court shall, subject to the directions of the President, be opened to the public on every day in the year from eight o’clock in the forenoon to one o’clock in the afternoon, except on Saturdays and Sundays or on any day declared a public holiday under any written law.

 

8.     (1) Sessions of the Court may be convened and constituted, and the time, venue and forum for all session and for hearing interlocutory applications shall be settled in accordance with general or specific directions to be given by the President.

         

          (2)The Registrar may post up every Friday a weekly cause list which shall set out the arrangement f fixture of causes   for hearing on each day during the following week:

           

             Provided that not more than 25 causes may be fixed for hearing each day.

        

         (3)The Presiding Justice of a Division of the Court may direct that a certain day of the week be reserved in the weekly cause  lists for rulings and judgments.

 

9.     (1)           The sittings of the Court and the matters to be disposed of at such sittings shall be advertised and notified in such manner as the President may direct :

 

Provided that the Court may in its discretion hear any appeal and deal with any other matter whether or not the same has been advertised.

 

10.            The Court may, at any time on application or of its own motion, adjourn any proceedings pending before it from time to time and from place to place.

 

11.           The Chief Registrar shall have the custody of the records of the Court and shall exercise such other functions as are assigned to him by these Rules and by such directions as the President may give from time to time.

 

12.           The President may assign, and the Chief Registrar may, with the approval of the President, delegate to the Deputy Chief Registrar or to any Registrar of the Court any functions required by these Rules to be exercised by the Chief Registrar.

 

13.            The Seal of the Court shall be kept in the custody of the President who may entrust same or duplicate thereof to such officers of the Court as he may think fit.

 

14.            Except as may be otherwise provided in the Constitution, or in any other enactment, the Chief Registrar shall have powers and duties as are given him by these Rules or such further powers and duties as the President may direct.

 

15.     (1)         The Registrar shall keep :

 

(a)         a Criminal Appeal Book ;

 

(b)         a Civil Appeal Book ;

each of which shall contain an index in alphabetical order.

 

 (2)           The following particulars shall be entered in the Criminal Appeal Book and the Civil Appeal Book

:

(a)         the number of the appeal or application ;

 

(b)         the names of the appellant or applicant and the respondent ;

 

(c)         the court from which the appeal is brought ;

 

(d)         the date and place of hearing of the appeal ;

 

(e)         the names of counsel ;

 

(f)         the subject matter of the appeal or application ;

 

(g)         the judgment of the Court ;

 

(h)         any subsequent proceedings and remarks.

 

16.            As soon as notice of appeal is delivered the Registrar shall, prepare a file in which documents relating to the appeal shall be filed and on the front page thereof shall be recorded particulars of such documents and the dates on which they are received.

 

17.           Any person aggrieved by anything done  by the Registrar  may apply to the Court to have the act or order complained of set aside or varied and the Court may give such directions or make such order thereon as the Court  thinks fit. Such application shall be made by notice of motion supported by affidavits setting out the complaint ,the grounds for the complaint and the relief sought.

 

18.           The forms set out in the First and Second Schedules to these Rules, or forms as near thereto as circumstance permit, shall be used in all cases to which such forms are applicable.

 

19.             (1)          In relation to an appeal the Court shall have all the powers and duties as to amendment and otherwise of the High Court including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing words, in civil matters the powers of the High Court in civil matters to refer any question or issue of fact arising on the appeal for trial before, or inquiry and report by, an official or special referee.

 

In relation to a reference made to an official or special referee, anything which can be required or authorized to be done by to or before the High Court shall be done by to or before the Court.

 

(2)             The Court shall have power to receive further evidence on questions of fact, either by oral examination in court ,by affidavit , or by deposition taken before an examiner or commissioner as the Court may direct , but, in the case of an appeal from a judgment after trial or hearing of any cause  or matter on the merits , no such further evidence (other than evidence as to matters which have occurred after the date of the trial or hearing ) shall be admitted except on special  grounds

            

 

(3)            The Court shall have power to draw interferences of fact and to give any judgment and make any order which ought to have been given or made, and to make such further or other order as the case may require, including any order as to costs.

 

(4)             The powers of the Court under the foregoing provisions of this rule may be exercised notwithstanding that no notice of appeal or respondent’s notice has been given in respect of any particular part of the decision of the court below, or by any particular party to the proceedings in that court, or that any ground for allowing the appeal or for affirming or varying the decision of that court is not specified in such a notice ; and the Court may make any order, on such terms as the Court thinks just, to ensure the determination on the merits of the real question in controversy between the parties.

 

(5)             The Court may, in special circumstances, order that such security shall be given for the costs of an appeal as may be just.

(6)             The powers of the Court in respect of an appeal shall not restricted by reason of any interlocutory order from which there has been no appeal.

 

(7)             The Court shall have power to make orders by way injunctions or the appointment of a receiver or manager and such other necessary orders for the protection of property or person pending the determination of an appeal to it even though no application for such an order was made in the court below.

 

(8)             Documents impounded by order of the Court shall not be delivered out of the custody of the Court except in compliance with an order of the Court :

 

Provided that where the Attorney-General of the Federation or of a State or the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation or of a State makes a written request in that behalf, documents so impounded shall be delivered into his custody.

 

(9)           Documents impounded by order of the Court, while in the custody of the Court, shall not inspected except by a person authorized to do so by an order of the Court.

 

20.     (1)           On the hearing of any appeal the Court may, if it thinks fit, make any such orders as could be made in pursuance of an application for a new trial or to set aside a verdict, finding or judgment of the court below.

 

  (2)          The Court shall not be bound to order a new trial on the ground of misdirection, or of the improper admission or rejection of evidence, unless in the opinion of the Court some substantial wrong or miscarriage of justice has been thereby occasioned.

 

  (3)          A new trial may be ordered on any question without interfering with the finding or decision on any other question ; and if it appears to the Court that any such wrong or miscarriage of justice as is mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Rule affects part only of the matter in controversy or one or some only of the parties, the court may order a new trial as to the party only, or as to that party or those parties only, and give final judgment as to the remainder.

 

 (4)           In any case where the Court has power to order a new trial on the ground that damages awarded by the court below are excessive or inadequate, the Court may in lieu of ordering a new trial -

 

(a)             substitute for the sum awarded by the court below such sum as appears to the Court to be proper ;

 

(b)             reduce or increase the sum awarded by the court below by such amount as appears to the Court to be proper in respect of any distinct head of damages erroneously included or excluded from the sum so awarded ;

 

but except as aforesaid the Court shall not have power to reduce or increase the damages awarded by the court below.

 

 (5)           A new trial shall not be ordered by reason of the ruling of any judge of the court below that a document is sufficiently stamped or does not require to be stamped.

21.-    (1)An appeal shall be deemed to have been entered in the court when the record of proceedings in the court below has been received in the Registry of the Court.

           (2)After an appeal has been entered and until it has been finally disposed of, the Court shall be seized of the whole of the proceedings as between the parties thereto, and except as may be otherwise provided in theses Rules, every application therein shall be made to the court and not to the court below, but any application may be filed in the court below for transmission of the Court.

 

 

Order 2

References as to Constitution and Reserved Points of Law

 

 

1.     When a lower court refers any question as to interpretation of the Constitution under section 295 of the Constitution, or reserves any question of law for the consideration of the Court in accordance with any written Law, the lower court referring or reserving the question of law, as the case may be shall state a case in Civil Form 1 or 2 in the First Schedule to these Rules, whichever may be appropriate, and the Registrar of the lower court shall forward ten copies direct to the Registrar.

 

2.     (1)     When the lower court making an application consists of three or  more judges, the case shall be stated on behalf of the lower court by a majority of those judges

 

(2)    When a question is referred or reserved by the lower court the question shall be signed by all or by a majority of the judges of the lower court referring or reserving the question.

 

3.     A case stated under this Order shall be divided into paragraphs, which, as near as may be, shall be confined to distinct portions of the subject whether facts, point of law, or document and every paragraph shall be numbered consecutively. It shall state such of the findings of fact as are necessary to explain the question on which the decision of the Court is sought but except where in a criminal matter, the question is whether there is any evidence to support any decision, or whether the evidence for the prosecution disclosed a case for the defendant to answer, it shall not contain a statement of the evidence. It shall also state the contentions of the parties, the opinion or decision (if any) of the court stating the case and the question of law for the determination of the court. In cases to which section 243A of the Criminal Procedure Act (or similar provision in any State law) applies, the case shall state whether the hearing has been adjourned or the verdict has been postponed or sentence has been respited and whether the person accused or convicted has been committed to prison or admitted to bail.

 

4.     (1)     Subject to the provisions of this rule, the following persons shall be entitled as of right to appear in person or by a legal practitioner at the hearing of any case stated under this Order :

 

(a)     the parties to the proceedings in which the question of law arose ; and

 

(b)     in any case stated involving a substantial question of law as to the validity of any law enacted by the National Assembly, the Attorney-General of the Federation; and

(c)     where the case involves the validity or constitutionality of a law within the competence of a State, the Attorney-General of the particular State where the law is or purport to be in force.

 

(2)     The following persons may by leave of the Court, appear in person or by a legal practitioner at the hearing of any case stated on the reference to the Court of any question s to the interpretation of the Constitution or any section of the Constitution pertaining to a State, as the case may be -

 

(a)     Where he is not entitled to appear as of right under paragraph (1) (b) of this rule, the Attorney-General of the Federation ; and

 

(b)     the Attorney-General of the State.

 

     (3)The Registrar shall forward to the Attorney-General of the Federation or of a State, as the case may be, a copy of any case stated to which this rule applied. Any other person who is entitled as of right to appear, and any person who may appear by leave of the Court, may obtain a copy of the case stated from the Registrar of the lower court on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

 

 

Order 3

Civil Appeals

 

 

1.     This Order shall apply to appeals to the Court from any court or tribunal acting either in its original or its appellate jurisdiction in civil cases, and to matters related thereto.

 

2.     (1)     All appeals shall be by way of rehearing and shall be brought by notice (hereinafter called "the notice of appeal") to be filed in the Registry of the court below which shall set forth the grounds of appeal, stating whether the whole or part only of the decision of the court below is complained of (in the latter case specifying such part) and shall state also the exact nature of the relief sought and the names and addresses of all parties directly affected by the appeal, and shall be accompanied by a sufficient number of copies for service on all such parties; and it shall also have endorsed on it an address for service.

 

(2)     If the grounds of appeal allege misdirection or error in law the particulars and the nature of the misdirection or error shall be clearly stated.

 

(3)     The notice of appeal shall set forth concisely and under distinct heads the grounds upon which the appellant intends to rely at the hearing of the appeal without any argument or narrative and shall be numbered consecutively.

 

(4)     No ground which is vague or general in terms or which discloses no reasonable ground of appeal shall be permitted, save the general ground that the judgment is against the weight of the evidence, and any ground of appeal or any part thereof which is not permitted under this rule may be struck out by the Court of its own motion or on application by the respondent.

 

(5)     The appellant shall not without the leave of the Court urge or be heard in support of any ground of appeal not mentioned in the notice of appeal, but the Court may in its discretion allow the appellant to amend the grounds of appeal upon payment of the fees prescribed for making such amendment and upon such terms as the Court may deem just.

 

(6)     Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions the Court in deciding the appeal shall not be confined to the grounds set forth by the appellant :

 

Provided that the Court shall not if it allows the appeal rest its decision on any ground not set forth by the appellant unless the respondent has had sufficient opportunity of contesting the case on that ground.

 

(7)     The Court shall have the power to strike out a notice of appeal when an appeal is not competent or for any other sufficient reason.

 (8)     The Registrar of the Court  below shall endorse on the notice of appeal or application the fees paid thereon, receipt number and date of payment.

`

   (3) (1)     Every application to the Court shall be by notice of motion supported by affidavit and  shall state the rule under which it is brought and the ground for the relief sought.

 

(2)     Any application to the Court for leave to appeal (other than an application made after the expiration of the time for appealing) shall be by notice of motion which shall be served on the party or parties affected.

 

 (3)   Where an application has been refused  by the court below, an application for a  similar  may be made to the Court within fifteen days after the date of the refusal.     

 

(4)     Wherever under these Rules an application may be made either to the court below or to the Court it shall not be made in the first instance to the Court except where there are special circumstances which make it impossible or impracticable to apply to the court below.

 

(5)     If leave to appeal is granted by the Court or by the court below the appellant shall file a notice of appeal within the time prescribed by section 25 of the Act.

 

(6)     Where an application for leave to appeal from a decision of the court below has been brought within the time specified by section 25 of the Act but has not been heard within that period, the Court, if satisfied that there has not been an unreasonable delay in bringing the application, may extend time to appeal and in a proper  case grant leave to appeal.

 

(7)     The application for leave to appeal from a decision of a lower court shall contain copies of the following items, namely :

 

(a)     Civil Form 5 duly completed.

 

(b)     A certified true copy of the judgment of the court below sought to be appealed against.

 

(c)     A copy of the proposed grounds of appeal ; and

 

(d)     Where leave has been refused by the lower court a copy of the order refusing leave.

(8)  Except with the special leave of the Court , a maximum of thirty minutes on each side will be allowed for oral argument on any application.

 

4.     (1)     The Court may enlarge the time provided by these Rules for the doing of anything to which these Rules apply.

 

(2)     Every application for an enlargement of time in which to appeal shall be supported by an affidavit setting forth good and substantial reasons for failure to appeal within the prescribed period, and by grounds of appeal which prima facie show good cause why the appeal should be heard. When time is so enlarged a copy of the order granting such enlargement shall be annexed to the notice of appeal.

 

5.     An appeal shall be deemed to have been brought when the notice of appeal has been filed in the Registry of the Court below.

 

6.     (1)     The Registrar of the court below shall after the notice of appeal has been filed, cause to be served a true copy thereof upon each of the parties mentioned in the notice of appeal but it shall not be necessary to serve any party not directly affected.

 

Provided that the Court may, of its own motion, or on the application of any person claiming to be affected, direct notice to be served on all or any parties to the action or other proceeding or upon any person not a party and in the meantime may postpone or adjourn the hearing of the appeal upon such terms as may be just and make such orders  as might have been made if the persons served with such notice had been originally parties to the appeal.

 

(2)     Notwithstanding anything in Rule 3 (6) of Order I where in any proceeding in the court below a party has given an address for service, notice of appeal from any decision made under such proceeding may be served on such party at such address for service, and notice of any application preparatory or incidental to   any such appeal may be served in like manner at any time before the date on which the respondent gives notice of his address for service in accordance with the immediately following rule.

 

7.     (1)     Every person who by virtue of service on him of a notice of appeal becomes a respondent to any appeal or intended appeal shall within thirty days after service on him of the notice of appeal file twenty copies with the Registrar of the court below notice of a full and sufficient address for service in such number of copies as the said Registrar shall require. The Registrar of the court below shall forthwith send a copy of the notice of address of the Registrar and shall cause a copy thereof to be served on the appellant.

 

(2)     Such notice may be signed by the respondent or his legal representative.

 

(3)     If any respondent fails or omits to file such notice of address for service it shall not be necessary to serve on him any other proceeding  in the appeal or any notice of hearing thereof.

 

(4)     Any party to an appeal or intended appeal may change his address for service at any time by filing and serving on all other parties to the appeal or intended appeal notice of such change.

 

8.     (1)     The Registrar of the court below shall after the expiration of the time prescribed for filing notice of address for service summon the parties before him to :

 

(a)     settle the documents to be included in the record of appeal ;

 

(b)     fix the amount to be deposited by the appellant to cover the estimated cost of making up and forwarding the record of appeal ;

 

(c)     fix the amount to be deposited by the appellant or secured by bond for the due prosecution of the appeal and the payment of any costs.