Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has renewed calls for a digital overhaul of the nation’s judicial system, stressing that technology is now indispensable in the fight to restore efficiency, transparency, and credibility in justice delivery.
Speaking at recent engagements with legal stakeholders, Fagbemi underscored the urgency of embedding digital solutions into court administration, warning that outdated processes risk undermining the very foundation of the rule of law.
For decades, Nigeria’s justice system has been plagued by backlogs, paper-heavy procedures, and slow trials that erode public trust. Fagbemi argues that technology—ranging from e-filing and digital case management to virtual hearings—can significantly address these challenges.
“Justice without proper data is ineffective,” he noted, highlighting the poor implementation of key provisions under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which mandates proper record-keeping and case tracking. Without digitisation, he warned, reforms risk remaining merely aspirational.
Building Momentum for Reform
Calls for technology adoption in Nigeria’s justice system are not new. Earlier this year, retired Justice Olusola Bankole-Oki, at the Nigeria Association of Judicial Correspondents’ Annual Lecture, stressed the need for stronger media accountability and public engagement alongside digital innovation. According to him, reforming courts cannot be separated from transparency and access to information.
Together, these interventions suggest growing institutional momentum. While the AGF frames technology as a tool for efficiency, judicial leaders link it with credibility and civic trust—a dual approach that may finally push Nigeria toward long-awaited reform.
A tech-enabled judiciary could mean more than just efficiency. Citizens could monitor their cases from smartphones, lawyers could file briefs online without travelling across states, and judges could rely on digital research assistants to expedite rulings.
Such transformations have already begun in Lagos State, where courts have experimented with virtual hearings and automated case management. Expanding these models nationwide could fundamentally alter how Nigerians interact with the justice system.
Why It Matters
For the public, digitisation could mean faster access to justice and a significant reduction in the all-too-familiar frustrations of adjournments and lost files. For the tech sector, it presents vast opportunities for collaboration—legal tech startups could play a central role in building secure platforms tailored to Nigeria’s needs.
But perhaps most importantly, the credibility of Nigeria’s judiciary itself may hinge on this shift. “Justice delayed is justice denied” is more than a slogan—it is a daily reality for countless citizens. Bridging this gap requires more than policy—it requires bold implementation of digital tools.
Fagbemi’s push signals an urgent turning point. The judiciary, civil society, and the technology community must now act collectively to deliver on these promises. The risk is clear: without embracing digital reforms, Nigeria’s justice system could continue losing public trust.
The opportunity, however, is equally clear. By embracing technology, Nigeria can transform its courts from relics of bureaucracy into engines of fairness—ushering in a justice system that finally works for its people.
Talking Points
Nigeria’s clogged courts don’t just deny justice—they choke economic growth. Investors are wary of a system where contract disputes linger for years.
If the justice system finally embraces tech, we could see faster case resolutions that restore confidence in doing business in Nigeria. That’s not just a legal issue—it’s an economic lifeline.
Announcing a “digital justice system” is easy, but if all we get are dusty laptops sitting in judges’ chambers, it’s business as usual.
What Nigeria needs is deep integration: e-filing, AI-powered case tracking, virtual hearings, and transparent judgment databases. Anything short of this is mere window-dressing.One uncomfortable truth is this: tech won’t magically fix corruption.
A digital platform can still be manipulated if those behind it lack integrity. The challenge is not only about infrastructure but about culture—how do you stop the powerful from gaming even a digital system? If this isn’t tackled head-on, we’ll simply end up with a more sophisticated version of the same problem.
