- Says Nigerian Courts and the Bar must ensure the use of technology to enhance the administration of justice
- Bill to regulate social media an attempt to gag operations
As artificial intelligence (AI) gradually takes a dominant position in everyday life, a retired judge of the Lagos State High Court, Hon. Justice Folashade Bankole-Oki, has called on Nigerians, particularly those in the legal profession, to embrace it, seek its advantages and put them to use
Her Lordship, who also noted that the Nigerian justice system urgently needs transformation, was a guest speaker at the recent Nigerian Association of Judicial Correspondents (NAJUC) Annual Lecture in Lagos, themed “Strengthening the Administration of Justice Through Technology, International Best Practices, Media, and Public Feedback.”
Asserting that AI is rapidly becoming a transformative tool in the legal sector, Justice Bankole-Oki pointed out that: “From research and document analysis to prediction models and case law referencing AI holds promise—but also poses risks…Whether we like it or not, AI has come to stay. Furthermore, like all new practices, theories and ideologies, there are the negatives and the positives. Our duty is to seek its advantages and put them to use. There was an era when people were very reluctant to use laptops and computers to deliver speeches, training and judgments. But look where we are now!”
According to Bankole-Oki: “It goes without saying that the Nigerian Courts and the Nigerian Bar have a duty to ensure that the use of technology is employed to enhance the administration of justice. International best practices must be studied and adapted, bearing in mind our cultural and infrastructural realities.
“Our courts face a range of systemic challenges, including case backlogs, delayed trials, and inefficient case management. Technology can—and should—be employed to mitigate these issues. I am proud to state that Nigerian Courts, especially the Lagos State Judiciary, have taken bold steps in embracing the use of technology both in the Courts and in the Registries.”
Speaking on the power of digital platforms and the bill at the National Assembly seeking to regulate social media, she said: “The influence of digital media has grown to the extent that legislative proposals have emerged seeking to regulate online bloggers by requiring them to have a fixed physical address.
“This of course, may be explained as an attempt to ensure accountability of the media; it seems more likely, however, to be an attempt to “gag” their operations.
“I am hopeful that this type of Bill will not see the light of day. To pass such a Bill will have a negative effect on the right of the public to information. While accountability is important, such efforts often raise serious concerns about freedom of expression and access to information.
“Everyone in this hall is aware that there is an urgent need to strengthen the administration of justice in Nigeria. Public trust in the system has waned, and rightfully so. However, rebuilding this trust is a collective effort. Government, the judiciary, legal practitioners, and— importantly—the media all have essential roles to play.”
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Speech-Hon-Justice-Bankole-Oki-NAJUC-
