The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has said that while artificial intelligence holds immense potential for improving justice delivery, its deployment in the Nigerian judiciary must be approached with caution and guided by strong ethical and legal frameworks.
She stated this while delivering a keynote address at a special public lecture organised by the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, on Wednesday.
The lecture, titled, “Justice in the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology for an Efficient and Accessible Judiciary in Nigeria,” was held at the Tayo Aderinokun Hall of the university.
“Artificial Intelligence is fast becoming integral to enhancing operational efficiency and client service delivery,” Kekere-Ekun said.
“There are diverse AI solutions, virtual assistants, and data analytics tools that can be adopted to optimise workflows and elevate the overall quality of legal services. These innovations range from standalone platforms to advanced features embedded within existing legal software and practice management systems,” she added.
According to the CJN, though the integration of AI into Nigerian courts is still at an early stage, private legal technology firms like Law Pavilion and publishers of the Nigeria Weekly Law Reports have already developed software that enables electronic access to legal reports, precedents, and forms.
“As we embark on this transformative journey, we must remain aware of the delicate balance between leveraging AI’s capabilities and maintaining the integrity and independence of the judiciary,” she said.
“AI is a tool to augment, not replace, judicial wisdom. The deployment of AI must be approached with caution. Ethical oversight, data privacy and algorithmic bias must be carefully considered to avoid unintended injustice. By thoughtfully integrating these technologies, we can enhance the efficiency, transparency and accessibility of our justice system, ultimately serving Nigerians more efficiently and effectively.”
She noted that the judiciary’s digital transformation would depend heavily on the strength of the national digital ecosystem and cooperation across different sectors.
“The judiciary does not operate in isolation. Its digital transformation will require collaboration with institutions, experts and stakeholders across our society. It will also require investment in infrastructure, sustained policy support and crucially, the digital literacy of judges, lawyers and court staff,” she said.
The event drew prominent dignitaries, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin; Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Chief Wole Olanipekun; UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof Folasade Ogunsola and chairman of the special public lecture, Prof Akin Oyebode.
Speaking further, Kekere-Ekun also highlighted current digital initiatives being implemented in the courts, including remote court proceedings via virtual platforms, digital recording and transcription, e-filing, e-service, case management systems, websites, online portals, and even the use of AI in some judicial operations.
Despite these strides, the CJN acknowledged the significant challenges facing the judiciary’s digital transformation. These include infrastructural deficits, limited digital literacy, legal and regulatory ambiguities, cybersecurity concerns, and data privacy issues.
“Infrastructural challenges hinder the Nigerian judiciary from leveraging on the numerous benefits of technology. Not all courts in Nigeria enjoy the same level of infrastructure. Reliable electricity, internet access, and basic ICT tools remain a challenge. This unevenness widens the justice gap between regions unless addressed through targeted investment and deliberate policy implementation,” she said.
“It is a common aphorism that technology is only as effective as the people who use it. Many court staff, legal practitioners and even judges require continued training and sensitisation to use digital platforms effectively. There is therefore a pressing need for guidelines on digital literacy and the application of digital solutions.”
On the legal front, she referenced the ongoing debate about the constitutionality of virtual court sittings.
“The constitutional debate surrounding the legality of remote proceedings is a prime example of how legal norms sometimes lag behind technological innovations. Updating laws, procedural rules, and evidence frameworks to reflect the realities of the digital age must be a priority for legislative and judicial policymakers,” she said.
“Digital innovation throws up legal issues surrounding data privacy because ICT invariably involves data mining, extraction, storage and analytics. These problems are further exacerbated where the legal regime is not strong enough to efficiently control the processing of private data.”
Justice Kekere-Ekun stressed that inclusiveness, trust, and sustainability must guide the digital journey of the judiciary.
“This,” she said, “includes investments in multilingual platforms, assistive technologies, public education, ethical use of AI, robust cybersecurity protocols, embedding technology in the DNA of judicial institutions, training court registrars and support staff to operate and troubleshoot digital systems.”
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