By Ebere Agozie
Technology adaptation is critical for strengthening Nigeria’s justice system, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohammed Ndarani, said on Tuesday.
Ndarani said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He said that technology adoption in Nigeria’s justice system would enable faster case resolution, improved efficiency, and enhanced transparency through digital tools,
“Any reform in the sector without a strong technology base will still amount to someone running around in circles while his house is on fire.
‘`We are at a critical point in our nation’s transformation agenda where premium is being placed on accountable, responsive, and transformative governance, which ensures effective and efficient service delivery.
“I am concerned about the delays in getting justice in Nigeria, and the unpredictability of court sittings remains a deeply distressing frustration for litigants and lawyers.
“The world is in the era of speed, innovation, and digital transformation. The sector needs to embrace technology, deepen the digital capacity of the courts and have coordinated progress across the justice sector.,” he said.
The learned silk noted that legal cases increase on a daily basis but some people choose to take law into their hands rather than seek redress in court because they feel it takes too long to get justice.
“We have growing cases of technology-driven crimes that require new skills and rapid judicial adaptation.
“The judiciary must meet growing public expectations for a justice system that is not only fair but also fast, accessible, and inclusive, regardless of literacy, location, or socio-economic background.
“This feeling has undermined public confidence in the justice system, therefore, there should be structured and technologically supported schedules, disciplined adjournment practices, and fixed sitting hours to improve predictability.
He frowned at the nonchalant attitudes of Nigerians towards sustenance and maintenance of government infrastructures across the country.
“For instance, the Federal Government in 2021 launched a pilot project for the use of virtual court sitting technology in correctional facilities.
“If I may ask, what happened to this laudable initiative?
“This project was aimed at supporting an inclusive and multi-sectoral response to COVID-19 and addressing its socio-economic impact in the administration of justice.
“But most importantly, it was for speedy dispensation of justice, decongestion of custodial centres in the country, elimination of difficulties in conveying inmates to court and also ensuring the safety of inmates and law enforcement officers.
“If I may ask again, is this happening at the correctional centres? The answer is, no. Rather, at these centres you see many people being remanded or awaiting trial for years on end.’’
Ndarani also called for enlargement of the e-affidavit system and e-filing system across all courts to modernize and harmonise court operations.
“We must confront uncomfortable truths as regards the weak systems and structures, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and gaps in internal coordination in our courts which have, too often, undermined public confidence in justice delivery.
“Digitisation like virtual hearings, e-filing, electronic case tracking etc will enhance modern day justice delivery and reduce confusion and ensure accurate information at all times.
“There is a need for a shift toward full-scale e-filing of court processes and electronic recording of proceedings to reduce human error and minimize paperwork,’’ he advised.
