By Sandra Umeh
The emergence of a technology-driven society has led to the inevitable adoption of technological facilities across almost all spheres of human endeavour. Machines, robots, computers, and other digital and electronic devices have taken centre stage in nearly every sector of the economy.
In Nigeria, these technological innovations are steadily transforming the nature and structure of activities in business, education, healthcare, agriculture, the judiciary, sports, and many other areas.
Undoubtedly, technology is driving Nigerian society at a pace that positions the nation to strive toward global standards.
Within the judiciary, the advent of technology has led to the introduction of digital tools in legal practice, largely replacing manual modes of operation, even as many practitioners continue to grapple with mastering these processes.
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2019 marked a significant turning point, as Nigerian courts adopted virtual proceedings to bridge gaps caused by delayed hearings and prolonged adjournments.
In early 2025, the Lagos State Judiciary introduced electronic filing of court processes, replacing the previously manual filing system.
More recently, the Federal High Court adopted an electronic affidavit system aimed at simplifying the deposition of documents.
These advancements have also ushered in electronic law reports, moving legal practitioners away from traditional bookshops to online legal libraries.
LawPavilion, a Nigerian-based legal technology firm specialising in electronic law reports, had noted that the era of lawyers physically visiting bookshops had become obsolete, as legal resources could now be accessed at the fingertips of any tech-savvy lawyer.
A Director of the firm, Mr Ope Olugasa, stated in 2023 that the integration of technology into legal practice was inevitable, projecting that intensified technological adoption could eventually lead to the deployment of artificial intelligence in judicial decision-making.
Since then, many legal practitioners have renewed calls for full automation of the court system to enhance efficiency and align Nigeria’s justice delivery system with international standards.
Court automation, a growing global trend, involves the use of technology to streamline judicial processes such as e-filing, case management, scheduling, and evidence presentation, thereby improving efficiency, transparency, and access to justice.
Although some lawyers argue that the concept of AI judges remained futuristic, they, however, acknowledged that technology-driven systems could replace cumbersome paper-based processes with digital workflows.
Such systems allow lawyers and litigants to interact with courts online, track cases, and manage administrative tasks remotely.
A technology lawyer, Mr Spurgeon Ataene, noted that 2025 had been a year of learning and refinement in the tech-driven justice process.
While acknowledging that technological integration represented a major step forward, he pointed out persistent challenges.
According to him, verbatim recorders are not functional in all courts, and virtual hearings—though desirable—are often disrupted by poor network connectivity across jurisdictions.
“These interruptions frequently halt proceedings, leading to repeated pauses and adjournments in the hope of improved network conditions,” Ataene noted, saying ” such disruptions frustrate the judicial process.”
He further observed that electronic filing had become a constraint in court registries, as lawyers were required to upload, stamp, and pay online even for routine applications such as letters of adjournment.
“Most times, these letters do not reach the court before sitting,” he said.
On the way forward, Ataene emphasised the need to engage technical experts to guide the court automation process and ensure a smooth transition from analogue to digital judicial operations.
“Until then, what we have remains largely experimental and wastes judicial time. When perfected, it will significantly improve the administration of justice and accessibility,” he said.
Another technology lawyer, Mr Ephraim Ashi, stated that Nigeria’s judicial system had yet to fully embrace technological sophistication.
He cited challenges in the service of court processes, where proofs of service were often said to be in court records but were missing from judges’ dockets.
“This frustration should not exist in a fully automated system, where all front-loaded documents are digitally archived and easily accessible,” Ashi said, calling for improved technological infrastructure in line with practices in advanced jurisdictions.
Similarly, the Convener of the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS), Mr Bayo Akinlade, acknowledged that while the judiciary had introduced initiatives to accelerate justice delivery, these efforts were still works in progress.
He noted advancements such as Zoom court sessions at the National Industrial Court and some High Courts, as well as the full digitalisation of Magistrates’ Courts in Lagos State, where case filings wre now done online.
However, Akinlade pointed out setbacks, particularly Nigeria’s weak internet infrastructure and suboptimal service delivery by internet providers, which hindered the full adoption of technology in courts.
He also highlighted the human factor, noting that many citizens lacked adequate digital literacy and still relied on traditional methods, thereby sustaining dependence on hard-copy filing systems.
According to him, an effective Case Management System requires robust digital platforms that enable judges and court staff to manage case progress, assign cases electronically, and access files seamlessly.
Akinlade therefore stressed that achieving an effective technology-driven judiciary depended on deliberate efforts to upgrade digital systems and infrastructure.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) investigation shows that judicial stakeholders believe court automation is a critical component of effective justice delivery in Nigeria, but remains only partially successful due to significant infrastructural and systemic challenges.
While initiatives such as e-filing and virtual hearings show strong potential, their implementation remains uneven nationwide.
Stakeholders have consequently called for the involvement of technical experts to help the judicial system overcome these challenges and achieve global standards(NANFeatures)
