CJN, Pantami Caution On AI integration In Legal System

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun on Friday called for cautious integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Nigeria’s legal framework.

A renowned cyber security expert and former minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ibrahim Pantami, also described AI as a double-edged sword, capable of driving both progress and harm.

Kekere-Ekun and Pantami spoke at the opening credits of the 16th annual general conference of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The conference was declared open by the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ibrahim Sulaiman.

Represented by the presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Ridwan Abdullahi, the CJN noted AI’s potential to transform various sectors, including the legal system, by replicating human intelligence in machines capable of learning, reasoning, and problem-solving.

She, however, cautioned that, “as an Ummah in the legal profession, we owe a duty to scrutinise with critical minds before we allow the integration of this said AI into our legal framework.”

Kekere-Ekun, also warned that without careful consideration, AI could disrupt established cultural norms and values and influence well-founded religious principles.

“We must ensure it does not distort or tamper with our divine laws and principles well guided according to the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet,” she stated.

In his keynote address, Prof. Pantami described AI as a double-edged sword, capable of driving both progress and harm.

He cautioned that without proper oversight and ethical guidance, AI could lead to significant disruptions across various aspects of society.

Pantami emphasised the need to ensure that Islamic ethical principles are upheld in the development and deployment of AI technologies.

He further urged Muslims to adopt a proactive, rather than reactive, approach in engaging with technological advancements, stressing the importance of shaping innovation through a value-driven lens.

Earlier, the national president of MULAN, Barr. Saidu Muhammed Tudunwada had called on legal professionals in the country to approach the integration of AI into the legal system with deep ethical and religious consideration.

Tudunwada urged Muslim lawyers to reflect on the spiritual, moral, and jurisprudential implications of AI while embracing technological innovation in the legal profession.

The chairman of the Kwara State chapter of MULAN, Dr. Taofeeq Abdul-Raheem called on Muslim legal professionals to embrace AI with a strong sense of ethical, professional, and religious responsibility.

Abdul-Raheem praised the choice of the conference’s theme: “Artificial Intelligence, Law and Religion in Nigeria,” describing it as timely and essential in shaping the future of legal practice within a faith-based framework.

The chairman of Central Planning Committee of the Conference, Barr. Kehinde Eleja(SAN) said it provided an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, share insights and collaborate in addressing the complex issues that arise at the confluence of AI, law, and religion.