Senator Simon Bako Lalong, representing Plateau South Senatorial District and former Governor of Plateau State, has stressed the need for Nigeria to harness digital innovations in justice administration while putting safeguards in place to prevent potential abuse. Lalong made the call on Friday while chairing the Distinguished Alumni Lecture of the University of Jos, delivered by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, at the institution’s Naraguta campus.Speaking on the lecture theme, “The Nigerian Justice System in a Digital Age: Opportunities, Challenges and the Road Ahead”, Lalong said technology is rapidly transforming the legal profession, which has traditionally been conservative.“
Thanks to information technology, the internet and the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence, the bench and bar are now transformed in ways never seen before. From virtual hearings to judges relying on digital devices for notes, the old ways of dispensing justice are giving way to the new,” he said.
He emphasized that while digitization has created opportunities for efficiency and transparency, Nigeria must ensure that access to justice remains fair and unbiased. He assured that as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and Vice Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, the National Assembly would continue to enact laws to strengthen justice delivery in the digital era.
In his lecture, Chief Fagbemi highlighted that technology has introduced speed, transparency, documentation, deeper research, and efficiency into judicial processes. He cited countries such as Singapore, Canada, Estonia, the United States, and the United Kingdom as examples of jurisdictions that have advanced in digital justice through tools such as virtual hearings and AI-assisted judgment drafting. While acknowledging Nigeria’s progress at both federal and state levels, he cautioned that digital adoption cannot replace judicial discretion. He called for a robust legal framework, training, and adequate equipping of the justice system to align with global standards
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, described the lecture as timely, noting that it provided a platform to interrogate the role of technology in justice delivery. Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Ishaya Tanko, expressed pride in Chief Fagbemi, noting that he is the first graduate of the university’s Faculty of Law to attain the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Plaques were later presented to dignitaries by the President of the University of Jos Alumni Association.
