Fully automated court system possible -CJN

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN) Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, yesterday expressed optimism in a digital revolution where all the courts will be fully automated.
He assured that the rapid development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) will pave way ahead to further improve judicial administration.
Tanko who doubles as Chairman, Board of Governors, National Judicial Institute(NJI) said, with 2012 pragmatic policy on ICT, that full scare e-filling of courts processes, electronic recording of processedings and e-judgements, e-rulings and execution of judgements is assured.
The CJN stated this at the opening ceremony of the National Workshop for Information and Communication Technology Staff at the NJI, Abuja.
He said, ‘’ICT has become an indispensable means of court management, especially when taking into consideration the ever-increasing caseload within the courts.
‘’ Internet and computer programmes possess a great potential for assisting in problem solving not only within our courts, but also when it comes to the creation of an information network or connectivity between the courts.
‘’ Increased awareness and knowledge at all levels of the Judiciary on the importance of ICT is paramount; Especially in the era of COVID 19 which has changed the way a lot of things are done in our world today,’’ he said.
In her welcome address, the Administrator of the NJI, Justice R. P. I Bozimo, said the workshop with the theme: Information Technology as a Catalyst for Effective Justice Administration in 21st Century was borne out of the need to enhance the capacity of court administration.
‘’ The workshop is organized to enhance the capacity of court employees in your cadre who are critical to the ICT regime that our courts are implementing.
‘’ The efficiency with which cases are discharged in judiciaries around the world proves to is the training arm of the Nigerian judiciary, that our judiciary must be in a position to respond to the technological challenges in order to improve on the efficiency of Justice administration in Nigeria,’’ she said.