The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday called on courts across the country to fully embrace virtual hearings, warning that traditional courtroom methods alone can no longer cope with the growing volume and complexity of cases.
Justice Kekere-Ekun made the call at the opening ceremony of the 2025/2026 Legal Year of the Federal High Court, where she noted that the court’s workload continues to expand, both in number and in sophistication.
According to her, contemporary judicial challenges are increasingly shaped by globalisation, technology-driven crimes, financial innovations, cross-border commercial disputes, terrorism-related cases and evolving regulatory frameworks.
“These realities demand new skills, firmer case management and rapid judicial adaptation,” the CJN said.
She stressed that digitisation must no longer be treated as a temporary or project-based initiative but should become a core institutional priority of the judiciary. She identified virtual hearings, e-filing, electronic case tracking, secure record management and functional ICT support as indispensable tools for modern justice delivery.
“Digitisation enhances not only speed, but accountability, predictability and public confidence. When court information is accurate, timely and easily accessible, uncertainty is reduced and trust is strengthened,” she stated.
While commending the Federal High Court for progress already made in this area, the CJN urged that such efforts be deepened and sustained through continuous training, infrastructure development and strong institutional commitment.
She particularly praised the court for unveiling its Information Electronic Directory Table, Electronic Notice Board and Advertorial Display Screens, describing them as a deliberate move towards transparency, order and user-centred court administration.
According to her, the Electronic Display Notice Board provides a secure platform for real-time dissemination of court-approved information such as cause lists, circulars, official announcements and emergency notices, thereby reducing confusion and ensuring consistency.
She added that the Electronic Display Directory Table, designed as an interactive wayfinding tool, would help visitors navigate court premises independently, reduce congestion, minimise delays and improve access to court services.
“Together, these systems promote dignity, efficiency, accessibility and institutional coherence, which are values that must define the modern Nigerian Judiciary,” the CJN said.
Meanwhile, ahead of the 2027 general elections, Justice Kekere-Ekun warned judges against the abuse of interim injunctions, stressing that election-related cases must be handled with discipline, consistency and strict adherence to constitutional and statutory timelines.
She cautioned that conflicting interim orders, forum shopping and the misuse of ex parte applications undermine the credibility of the justice system and erode public confidence.
“The Judiciary must never be perceived as a theatre for political gamesmanship; it must remain a sanctuary of constitutional order,” she said, adding that heads of court divisions must firmly enforce procedural discipline.
The CJN also lamented delays in the administration of justice, noting that while some delays are structural, many are preventable. She urged judges to exercise purposeful control of proceedings, emphasizing that effective case management is central to judicial responsibility.
She disclosed that the National Judicial Council would continue to strengthen oversight of case progression, not as a punitive measure, but as a means of promoting discipline and improving justice delivery.
In his remarks, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, revealed that at the end of the 2023/2024 Legal Year, a total of 161,999 cases were pending and carried over into the 2024/2025 Legal Year.
He said that an additional 19,925 cases were filed within the period, bringing the total number of cases to 181,924. Of this figure, 16,019 cases were disposed of, leaving 165,905 cases pending.
Justice Tsoho provided a breakdown of the disposed cases as 3,113 civil cases, 5,818 criminal cases, 3,724 motions and 3,364 fundamental human rights cases.
He added that at the end of the legal year, 44,650 civil cases, 44,078 criminal cases, 46,228 motions and 30,949 fundamental rights enforcement applications remained pending.
Despite the backlog, Justice Tsoho said the court had performed commendably given its expansive jurisdiction and heavy workload, noting that its achievements extended beyond the judiciary to other sectors of the country.
On its part, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), through its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, called for improved institutional integrity within the judiciary.
He expressed concern over what he described as troubling perceptions that threaten judicial legitimacy, particularly the unpredictability of court sittings.
The NBA noted that litigants and lawyers often travel long distances, incur significant expenses and face security risks, only to be informed that courts are not sitting or that matters have been adjourned after hours of waiting.
According to the association, such experiences waste time and resources, heighten anxiety and erode public confidence in the justice system.
“Justice that is unpredictable in its administration risks becoming inaccessible in its outcome,” the NBA said, adding that the constitutional guarantee of fair hearing within a reasonable time cannot be achieved amid avoidable and unexplained disruptions.