Adopt Technology, CJN Tells Court Registrars

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has urged court registrars across the country to embrace technology and judicial automation as a critical step toward improving efficiency, transparency and access to justice in Nigeria’s courts.

Justice Kekere-Ekun made the call on Wednesday while delivering an address at the 2026 Strategic Retreat of the Committee of Chief Registrars of Nigeria, themed “Strengthening Court Administration, Financial Accountability, and Staff Wellbeing for a More Effective Judiciary in Nigeria.”

She noted that the judiciary was operating in an era marked by rising caseloads, changing public expectations and rapid technological advancement, stressing the need for modern court administration to adapt.

“This retreat is a forum to anticipate change, adapt strategically and reinforce institutional resilience, particularly in an era defined by rising caseloads, evolving public expectations and rapid technological advancements. In this context, I urge you to pay deliberate attention to the integration of technology and judicial automation,” the CJN said.

According to her, modern court administration must adopt digital tools that enhance efficiency, transparency and access to justice, while remaining firmly anchored in due process and data integrity.

“Technology, when properly deployed, is not a disruption but an enabler of judicial excellence,” she added.

Describing the courts as the “heartbeat of the justice system,” Justice Kekere-Ekun warned that weak administration inevitably leads to delays in justice delivery and erosion of public confidence.

She emphasised that court administration is not a peripheral function but a core element of governance that shapes how justice is accessed and experienced by citizens.

“Our courts are the heartbeat of the judicial system. Where administration is weak, justice is delayed. Where accountability is absent, public confidence erodes. Court administration, therefore, is not a peripheral function; it is governance in action,” she stated.

Earlier, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said the integration of digital technologies in court administration must be a priority in 2026.

He highlighted ongoing initiatives by the Federal Ministry of Justice, including the Enterprise Content Management System and the Performance Management System, while calling for faster implementation of e-filing, automated case management and transparent court processes.

In his keynote address, former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, argued that the administration of justice should be viewed as a product, advocating expanded responsibilities for court registrars, particularly in non-contentious matters.

He suggested that relieving judges of such duties through legislative or procedural reforms would improve efficiency and enhance service delivery within the judiciary.

Justice Kekere-Ekun later declared the retreat open and wished participants fruitful deliberations.

The two-day retreat, organised by the Committee of Chief Registrars of Nigeria, is expected to generate policy recommendations on court administration, staff welfare, wellbeing and financial accountability, with participants drawn from courts across the country and other key stakeholders in the justice sector.