Lagos Chief Judge Advocates Reforms In Digital Rights Law

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has called for further reforms of the country’s digital rights law to keep up with the dynamic nature of technology and safeguard the rights of citizens.

Justice Alogba stated this at a two-day training session for judges and lawyers on the protection and promotion of digital rights in Nigeria which was conducted by Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders).

He maintained that the country’s legal framework must continuously evolve to address modern challenges of digital privacy, online defamation, and electronic evidence.

The Chief Judge, represented by Justice Rahman Oshodi, emphasised that the judiciary plays a crucial role in promoting digital rights.

He noted that the judiciary does this by interpreting existing laws in light of digital realities, balancing competing interests, and developing jurisprudence that recognises the unique characteristics of the digital environment.

The judge also stressed that as judges discharge these responsibilities, they must remain cognizant of the global nature of digital rights discourse while ensuring their interpretations reflect Nigeria’s unique cultural, social, and legal context.

“Nigeria has made significant strides in establishing a legal framework that addresses digital rights. The Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDPA) and various sections of the 1999 Constitution that touch on freedom of expression, privacy, and access to information all form part of this evolving framework.

“The digital age presents new frontiers for the law, and our collective responsibility is to ensure that as technology advances, the protection of fundamental rights advances alongside it.

“Learning from the experiences of other jurisdictions whilst maintaining our sovereignty and unique context can enrich our approach to digital rights protection. This collaboration is beneficial and necessary in our increasingly interconnected world,” he stated.

The administrator of Avocats Sans Frontières France in Nigeria, Ivan Paneff, stated that the training would assist judges and lawyers in combating the misuse and abuse of social networks and responding to violations of digital rights.

Paneff also revealed that ASF France organised the training in collaboration with the European Union (EU) as part of the EU Rights Project. The training sessions were held for judges and lawyers in Abuja, Lagos, and Kano states.

He emphasised that Nigeria must ensure individuals have the right to freely express themselves online, without facing censorship, intimidation, or harassment, by protecting and respecting their digital rights.