Chief Justice: Nigerian Courts Must Now Embrace Technology

ABUJA — Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has declared that Nigerian courts can no longer remain separate from the advances happening in technology. She made the call on Saturday at a judicial conference in Abuja.

Kekere-Ekun said the justice system must use technology to improve access to courts, speed up case processing, and reduce the cost of litigation for ordinary Nigerians. She said a slow and manual justice system serves no one well.

“The courts can no longer remain detached from technology developments,” Kekere-Ekun said. She urged judges, lawyers, and court administrators across all levels to embrace digital tools as a matter of urgency.

The Chief Justice pointed to electronic filing systems, virtual hearing platforms, and digital case management as areas where Nigerian courts must invest. She said several countries in Africa and beyond have already made these changes with positive results.

A Long-Standing Challenge

Nigeria’s court system has long struggled with case backlogs. Millions of cases are pending across federal and state courts. Delays of five years or more are common in commercial and criminal cases. Experts say manual processes and inadequate court infrastructure are major causes.

Moreover, many Nigerians, especially those in rural areas, find the cost and distance to courts prohibitive. Virtual hearings could help bridge this access gap. Several Nigerian states have already piloted online hearings, though with mixed results.

The National Judicial Council has been working on a digital transformation plan for the judiciary for several years. However, implementation has been slow due to budget constraints and resistance to change within the system.

What Experts Say

Legal technology experts say Nigeria has the talent and tools to build a modern digital court system. Furthermore, they say the private sector is ready to partner with the judiciary to develop the necessary platforms.

Chief Justice Kekere-Ekun also called for investment in training for judges and court staff. She said technology is only effective when the people using it understand how it works. She pledged to push for a dedicated budget line for court digitisation in the 2027 judicial appropriations.

The National Assembly is expected to take up the issue of court digitisation in its next session. Several lawmakers have already indicated support for a dedicated fund to modernise Nigeria’s justice infrastructure.