The president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has expressed dismay over the judiciary’s persistent reliance on outdated manual recording methods, despite the availability of modern technology.
Speaking at the Justice and Innovation Technology (JIT) summit and the unveiling of JUDIC AI, a pioneering AI-powered solution for Nigeria’s justice system, Osigwe decried the slow pace of digital adoption in the country’s courts.
The event, held in Abuja yesterday, was supported by Devon Technology and the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC).
Osigwe highlighted that many courts record proceedings in longhand, even when donor organisations provide recording devices.
“In this age of speech-to-text software, it’s surprising and disappointing that some courts insist on manual methods. Some judges even switch off electronic devices, fearing their words being recorded,” he said.
Osigwe argued that this resistance to technology contributes to significant delays in the judicial process.
“Matters that should take weeks end up taking years,” he noted, pointing to prolonged delays in obtaining court records and judgements, which often fail to meet the constitutional seven-day delivery deadline.
He warned that such inefficiencies erode public confidence in the judiciary, with severe consequences for the wrongly convicted.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said, citing cases where innocent individuals serve full sentences before their appeals are heard.
Osigwe also raised concerns about the quality of judicial outputs, noting frequent typos and incomplete reasoning in judgments.
The president lamented the absence of immediate access to judgments on court websites and the appointment of judges lacking computer literacy, which he argued is not adequately addressed by constitutional requirements.
“Commercial disputes are increasingly being resolved outside Nigeria because of waning confidence in our judicial system,” he added.
The NBA president called for urgent reforms, particularly at the Supreme Court, which he described as one of the most overburdened in the world.
He suggested that administrative tasks, such as filing motions for time extensions, could be handled electronically to ease the court’s workload.
Peter Bemshima Emmanuel, executive officer of Devon Technology, echoed Osigwe’s sentiments, noting that despite advancements in artificial intelligence and automatic speech recognition, many judges still rely on handwritten notes.
“We aim to redefine justice delivery in Nigeria,” Emmanuel said.
He highlighted the inefficiencies, such as the physical transportation of inmates to court for case hearings.
“We are committed to driving digital transformation in the legal sector.”
On her part, Lucy James Abagi, chief executive officer of PPDC, outlined her organisation’s efforts to address systemic inefficiencies, particularly in pre-trial detention.
She reported that PPDC’s technology-driven solutions, including JUDIC AI and Docket Master, have reduced case dockets by 50% in five states, accelerating trials and improving outcomes for over 2,500 pre-trial detainees.
“Our digital filing systems, electronic courtrooms, and remote hearings are laying the foundation for a modern, efficient judiciary,” Abagi said.
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