In the Judicial hierarchy in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Court of Appeal is the second highest Court in the country. That is next to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The Court was established in 1976 and was then called Federal Court of Appeal. The enabling Act establishing the Court is referred to as Federal Court of Appeal Act. 1976, which came into effect on 1st October 1976. Initially the number of justices of the Court, including the President of the Court was fixed at thirty-six. In the order of Judicial Precedence, the President of the Court shall rank equal to a Justice of the Supreme Court and the other Justices of the Court shall rank next to the Justice of Supreme Court.

The Court is primarily an appellate Court and the Court shall be duly constituted for the purpose of hearing and determining any appeal. Whether Civil or Criminal, if it consists of at least three Justices.