Technology Key In Justice Sector Administration, Says AGF Fagbemi

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has said the ministry has taken tangible steps to embed technology into the administration of the justice sector.

The move, which he describes as the core operational capability he has added, has demonstrated the ministry’s commitment to implementing the Electronic Content Management System (ECMS).

The system, according to Fagbemi, who chaired the occasion, represents a significant public investment that reflects the government’s recognition that building institutional capacity requires not only human resources but also technological infrastructure.

Fagbemi stated this in Abuja at an event tagged JusticeTechNG HACKATHON and Accelerator Demo Day, organised by the Special Assistant to the President on Justice Sector Reform, ICT/Digital and Innovative Technology, Mr Fernandez Marcus-Obiene, in collaboration with JusticeTech Nigeria Ltd/Gte and Arravo Technology Ltd.

The AGF noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda recognises a fundamental truth: that national development depends ultimately on trust.

The AGF said, “The ECMS is aimed at fundamentally improving how we track documents, how we maintain institutional memory so that knowledge is not lost when personnel change, how we enhance efficiency in prosecutorial and advisory functions, and how we strengthen accountability by creating auditable records of actions and decisions.

“JusticeTechNG Demo Day gathering represents far more than a routine ceremony or a perfunctory acknowledgement of innovation.

“It reflects a deliberate and strategic choice by the justice sector to engage the future with clarity, discipline, and purpose. It is not a celebration of technology for its own sake, nor is it an uncritical embrace of digital solutions simply because they are novel or fashionable. Rather, it is a practical and considered engagement with the fundamental question of how innovation can strengthen our institutions, expand opportunity for our citizens, and deepen the rule of law in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We are here because we recognise that the challenges facing our justice system demand not only commitment and resources, but also creativity, adaptability, and the intelligent application of technology to age-old problems of access, efficiency, and accountability.

“JusticeTechNG was designed to solve a real and persistent problem that has plagued not only Nigeria but justice systems across the developing world.

“Across our justice sector, we have an abundance of talent that lacks access to institutional platforms.

“We have brilliant ideas that have no clear pathways to adoption within government structures. We have innovations that are demonstrated at conferences and workshops, applauded in academic settings, and then quietly filed away, never to move beyond the proof-of-concept stage into actual implementation.

In brief remarks, the President of the Appeal Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, assured that the tech solution will, among other things, enhance case and broader judicial reforms.

Represented by Justice Okon Abang, the president stated further: “The best tech tool for the justice sector should be user-friendly and be able to solve adjudication-related challenges.”

In his earlier welcome address, Obiene said the accelerator program tailored for the justice sector will outlive us.

He said the move is in line with President Bola Tinubu, who believes in Nigeria investing in Nigerian businesses.

“We are getting our people to invest more and participate more. We want the justice centre and the pastoral actors to show interest too. The outcome will improve credibility and access and make people buy into the vision. We hope our people will invest more and participate more.

“We are also given prices ranging from N10 million, N7 million, and N5 million for the first, second, and third position, respectively, in the Hackathon,” Obiene said.