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.”
She called on judicial officers and legal professionals to embrace digital tools and continuous development.
“Judicial officers and court staff must embrace a culture of innovation and be open to ongoing professional development. Legal practitioners must integrate digital advocacy tools into their practice and comply with data filing and hearing protocols,” she said.
“Legislators must amend procedural laws and provide adequate budgetary allocations to support digital infrastructure. Technology companies and legal tech startups must offer tailor-made, secure and affordable solutions designed with the unique realities of the Nigerian justice system in mind.
“The executive and development partners must collaborate with the judiciary in providing logistics, funding and technical assistance, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. The academia and civil society must continue to engage in critical thought leadership, policy development, and monitoring of digital justice implementation.
“We must also learn from other jurisdictions—adapting global best practices to our local realities. In this regard, the NJC under my leadership is committed to working with state judiciaries and other stakeholders to standardize digital protocols, harmonise technology platforms and ensure interoperability across jurisdictions. This will reduce fragmentation and promote a cohesive national approach to court digitisation.”
The CJN envisioned a judiciary where digital platforms eliminate geographical barriers to justice and empower judges with tools to decide cases more efficiently and fairly.
“The judiciary we envision is one where justice is no longer confined to the four walls of a courtroom; where litigants can file a suit, monitor progress, attend hearings, and receive decisions without geographical or logistical hindrance.
“It is a judiciary where case allocation is smart and transparent; where records are digital and searchable; and where every judge is empowered with tools to do justice efficiently and fairly.”
She concluded by reaffirming her vision of a justice system that evolves with the times while remaining rooted in the values of fairness and dignity.
“My vision is for a judiciary that upholds its sacred mandate with dignity but also evolves with the demands of a rapidly changing society. A judiciary that is not left behind by the digital wave sweeping across sectors, but one that leads by example in using technology to serve the people better.
“The digital age offers the Nigerian judiciary an unprecedented opportunity to redefine its service to the people. It is an opportunity to shift from a manual, paper-based model to a smart, citizen-centric system, one that honours the Constitution, upholds the rule of law, and reflects the lived realities of Nigerians in all their diversity.
“To achieve this vision, we must be deliberate. We must invest not just in hardware and software, but also in people, policy, and partnerships. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that every courtroom is empowered to deliver justice – not only efficiently, but equitably. Most importantly, we must never lose sight of the human dimension. Justice is not a file, a date, or a ruling. It is the lived experience of a citizen who feels seen, heard and respected.”
Speaking, the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor highlighted the significance of the programme’s theme of a better judiciary.
Sanwo-Olu emphasised the need to rethink justice delivery for equitable access, noting Lagos’s potential to drive this transformation through digitization, building trust, transparency, and inclusivity.
He said Lagos looked forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to build a digitally empowered justice system that meets the needs of its people.
“Lagos is proud to be leading this charge and we look forward to having all stakeholders, both public and private, join us in building a digitally empowered justice system that meets the needs of our people,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Prof Oyebode demanded that the judiciary should evolve and embrace digital innovation.
Several other professors of law in the university also took turns to buttress what had been said by the Chief Justice.
One of the lecturers in the Faculty of Law, UNILAG, Dr Kemi Omotubure, stated that the inclusion of digital technology in the judiciary should start with the students of the faculty of law, before reaching the courts.
“We need to have tech-ready lawyers for the tech-ready judiciary that has been described. We need to focus on the problems. Permit me to play the devil’s advocate, because I’m only going to focus on the problems, which are the AI cases and hallucinations. Researchers are now keeping track of cases where lawyers continually cite fake cases courtesy of generative AI.”
“So why is that important for our own cases? Our students are now using AI, an assignment that should take a week will be ready in a day, and everything will have been done and written so nicely. So lawyers are continually doing this and it’s a burden on the court. Therefore, it’s our responsibility to ensure that we address this right from the root,” Omotubure said.
