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Using ICT To Boost Judicial Process

Published

12 years ago

on

 

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“Primary amongst these challenges is the sustained use of out-of-date paper-based systems and processes which delay the administration of justice”.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

 

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Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members  In Brass Water

Published

7 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways
The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and  members of his church were in a programme.
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?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet  to be recovered
as search party are still ongoing.
Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report,  our Correspondent gathered  that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.
The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit
The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s  on the sad accident
By: CHINEDU WOSU
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Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

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7 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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The Rivers State Council of  Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.
Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt,  recently.
Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.
He noted that  the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.
According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.
He also  informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.
“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.
Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.
The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.
He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.
The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.
He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.
Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.
By: King Onunwor
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FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

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2 weeks ago

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May 13, 2026

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The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.
 Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.
“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.
The minister noted  the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.
According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.
Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.
He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.
“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.
He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.
“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.
Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.
“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.
“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.
She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.
Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).
“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.
“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.
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