D

elay in the administration of justice in Nigeria is
sometimes blamed on the judiciary.

These delays, experts say, could be attributed to the “refusal’’ of the judiciary to key into the modern trend, as judicial officers continue to record proceedings manually.

Cases are also filed manually, instead of electronic filing, which is cheaper and faster.

They believe that if the judiciary embraces Information Communication Technology (ICT), it will quicken dispensation of justice.

However, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), said the judiciary could not continue to live in the past.

“The judiciary cannot operate with old models when everything around it, like the economy, education has radically transformed in the light of current technological realities.

He said that the 21

st Century Nigerian judges needed capacity building, not just in the area of law and procedure, but also in other areas to enable them to function properly.

“They must also be well-grounded in management skills to manage their court dockets, to manage their supporting staff and perhaps, of equal importance, to manage counsel and litigants/witnesses who come to their courts.”

Musdapher, who launched the first-ever Nigerian Judiciary Information Technology Policy Document for the computerisation of all facets of the judiciary in the country, said that the judiciary must embrace ICT.

The former CJN, who spoke at the 2013 Nigerian Judges Conference, said: “The time has come for courts in the country to embrace Information Technology so as to reduce the chronic delay of justice delivery.

“Various challenges exist and they prevent us from reaching this our vision of having justice system that is simple, fast and efficient.

“Primary amongst these challenges is the sustained use of out-of-date paper-based systems and processes which delay the administration of justice”.

Musdapher had earlier directed the National Judicial Institute (NJI), to make it mandatory for judicial officers to undergo ICT training to enable the officers to overcome the contemporary challenges.

A cross-section of participants at the Conference of All Nigeria Judges of Lower Courts, also stressed the need to use ICT to quicken dispensation of justice.

Mohammed Yayajo, an Upper Area Court Judge in Bajoga, Gombe State, said using modern methods in recording court proceedings would quicken dispensation of justice.

“I am certainly appreciative because it will help us in our proceedings, in terms of quick dispensation of justice,” he said.

Another participant, Magistrate Regina Basi of Yahei Magistrates‘ Court in Cross River, also said that application of ICT would go a long way in assisting judges in adjudication.

On her part, Chief Magistrate Tessi Ansa-Agho from Calabar, Cross River, said the ICT reform in the judiciary would boost administration of justice.

“Personally, I have keyed into it and most of the times if I have judgment or ruling to deliver, I will just type in the topic, pick out what I want and I keep on updating it.

“That is how it is supposed to be and it will make justice dispensation easier, quicker, faster, enjoyable and convenient,” she said.

Stakeholders want the judiciary across the country to promote the use of ICT.

They also want chief judges to emulate the former FCT Chief Judge, Justice Lawal Gumi, who established e-filing of court cases.

Under the system, court officials, litigants and lawyers could access or file cases from anywhere and at anytime.

The world now is a global village, while ICT has come to stay. The judiciary must embrace modern technology in order to boost quick dispensation of justice and decongestion of the courts.

-Ubandoma is of News Agency of Nigeria

Ahmed Ubandoma