To address the majority of the challenges hindering efficient justice delivery in the country, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has been urged to promote the adoption of technology in court operations.
A justice sector reform advocacy group – the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) – said this while noting that the nation’s judicial system “is becoming increasingly clogged, making it difficult for litigants to obtain timely and fair resolution of disputes.”
CSLS’ President, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) expressed the group’s view while speaking in Abuja on Friday on measure being initiated by his organisation to promote the recently National Minimum Standards (NMS) intended for effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJLs) of various states.
He noted that delays in the administration of justice remain a pressing issue, adding that “many cases are filed solely to delay justice, exploiting inefficiencies in the system.
“Even when judgments are eventually delivered, successful litigants often face difficulties in enforcing court decisions due to bureaucratic bottlenecks and a general disregard for judicial rulings.
“The growing perception that the courts are unable to dispense justice fairly and efficiently is deeply troubling. Such a perception discourages economic investment, erodes public trust, weakens the rule of law, and poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy,” the CSLS said.
To address the identified challenges and many others, he urge the CJN, as the leader of the legal profession and the broader justice sector, to take bold and proactive measures to improve the administration of justice.
He added: “A key priority should be the adoption of technology to modernize judicial processes. The continued reliance on manual, longhand recording of court proceedings is no longer acceptable.
“The conditions under which our judges operate are challenging, inefficient, and outdated.
If we can use technology to enhance efficiency in our personal and professional lives, there is no justification for failing to apply technological solutions to expedite and enhance justice delivery.
“As the saying goes, justice delayed is justice denied. We therefore appeal to the Chief Justice of Nigeria to establish a clear deadline for the nationwide adoption of: E-filing of court processes, E-service of court documents,
E-assignment of cases,
E-arraignment procedures,
• E-recording and transcription of court proceedings and E-monitoring of judicial performance.
“These and other critical reforms embedded in the National Minimum Standards will be key discussion points at our upcoming National Sensitization Webinar and National Technical Review and Evaluation Conference (NTREC),” Prof Akinseye-George said.
The CSLS’ President disclosed that part of the group was planning an national sensitization webinar for February 11 as part of its efforts to create awareness about the NMS and provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss their implementation.
He added that the CSLS has also scheduled a national technical review and evaluation conference for February 25 and 27 to bring together stakeholders from the federal and state levels to assess compliance with the ACJA and ACJLs, share insights, and identify solutions to implementation challenges.
Professor Akinseye-George said the standards contained in the NMS represent the fundamental provisions within the ACJA and ACJLs and are designed for uniform application across the country.
He however, noted that although all agencies and stakeholders in the criminal justice system are required to adhere to the NMS, its
awareness among key stakeholders remains limited despite their adoption by the Body of Attorneys General, which comprises the Attorney General of the Federation, state Attorneys General and Commissioners of Justice.
Prof Akinseye-George noted that an example that the NMS is not yet fully adopted is the disregarded for the standard that mandates that adjournments in criminal cases should not exceed 14 days.
“Unfortunately, this provision is routinely disregarded by prosecutors, defense lawyers, and courts, leading to indefinite delays in criminal trials, often spanning several months.
“These delays are particularly prevalent in cases involving indigent and high-profile defendants,” he said.