The Nigerian Judiciary is still acting like we are in the 1960s in this Gen Z Age. Most of the components of the Judiciary have been lethargic in applying technology in churning out the endless possibilities in this regard.
The Nigerian Judiciary must embrace technology in the following manners:
1. Embrace the e-filing concept. The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) have shown that you can file processes online in a seamless manner. The Judiciary should queue into the e filing process. It is a seamless process that will even capture our diaspora population that becomes discouraged because of the inability to access the court system, due to the analogue methods of the Court in some regards.
2. Courts in Nigeria should adopt the verbatim recording system or the audio-visual multimedia model for ascertainable records off court, which will ensure an electronic recording of proceedings. From experience, this will reduce by half the duration of time of conducting cases and give an accurate record of proceedings in Court.
3. Courts should set up WhatsApp Groups of key court officials and Bar leaders. The information posted there on activities of Courts will be relayed by Bar Leaders to their Branch WhatsApp Group.
4. Courts should adopt an electronic file management system to make storage of Court documents safe and easier to access. This will ensure online applications of Certified True Copies (CTCs).
5. Courts should adopt teleconferencing with time to stop the element of adjournments. Counsel can appear in Court from anywhere in the world. This is what is applicable in some other climes. This will also allow our diaspora population to be able to testify in Court and reach the court system directly, for easy and effective administration of justice.
6. Courts should allow electronic devices like laptops, phones etc. to be used in Court for research and accessing materials, online, real-time. This will help our jurisprudence.
7. There should be CCTV Cameras in every Court to capture proceedings in visuals. Where there is a doubt as to what happened in court it could be reviewed.
8. Courts should have a functional website where Cause List for each day and Judgments/Ruling can be assessed with ease. Phone numbers of Registrars should also be there to be able to reach
them easily.
9. The Legal Assistants should all have laptops, just as judgments and rulings are given by the Court, they should draw up the enrolment of Order and enrolment of judgment on the same day and ensure same is signed by the judge and issued out same day. It should be made compulsory that a judicial officer should not read a judgment without typing and signing same.
10.All Courts should have a common WhatsApp group. For example, we can have the High Court WhatsApp Group, the Magistrate Court WhatsApp Group and the Customary Court WhatsApp Group. The Court of Appeal Benin is the flagship in this regard, thanks to my noble Honourable, Hon. Justice Helen Morenike Ogunmiwunju as a PJ, of the Court of Appeal, Benin. My Lord is now of the Supreme Court. Kudos to my classmate – Mr. Dennis, then HOD Litigation, Ovigwe Ogbodu, and Mrs. Rufai for their dictation in running a 24-hour platform on WhatsApp. The National Industrial Court and Federal High Court in Lagos are also trying. Kudos to my Tolani Rafiu for your work in this regard.
We will do better as a Body if all these are put into play. Operating without technology in the 21st century is like eating white rice without stew. It will be bland.
About the Author:
Douglas Ogbankwa Esq., is the Convener of the Vanguard for the Independence of the Judiciary; @douglasogbankwa@gmail.
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