Legal experts, academics, and business leaders in Nigeria have called for a national consensus to automate court systems to bolster the rule of law and democracy. The push came during a dialogue in Lagos focused on judicial reforms and technology integration. Organizers emphasized institutional reforms, civic participation, and economic inclusion as essential for sustainable governance.
The Dialogue on the National Agenda for Democracy Strengthening (NADS) took place in Lagos on Friday, organized by the Private Sector Development for Democracy Forum (PSDdF), in partnership with the American Business Council, Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), Digitslaw, and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). The event, themed “Strengthening Specific Democratic Agencies: The Judiciary, Media, Electoral Bodies and Accountability Agencies,” gathered stakeholders from legal, business, and academic sectors to discuss enhancing judicial efficiency and public trust.
In his virtual keynote from Canada, Dr. Anthony Idigbe (SAN) highlighted the benefits of integrating IT infrastructure into Nigerian courts. “It can improve efficiency and productivity by automating tasks, enabling digital case management, and facilitating electronic filing, thereby significantly reducing delays and streamlining court processes,” he said. Idigbe also noted gains in transparency, accountability, access to justice via virtual hearings, and cost savings. He recommended short-term implementations like electronic filing, virtual proceedings, IT investments, and training for judges and staff within 12-18 months, followed by medium-term strategies over two to three years.
Osho Alaba, head of communications at Digitslaw, described the platform as a cloud-based tool for legal practice management, compatible with web and mobile, aimed at digitizing operations across Africa to improve access, transparency, and service delivery.
Charles Adeyemi Candide-Johnson (SAN), PSDdF steering committee chairman, stressed in his welcome remarks that an independent judiciary anchors democracy and economic stability. “Without a credible rule of law system, democracy becomes fragile, businesses lose confidence, citizens lose trust, and justice becomes the privilege of the few,” he said. The event introduced the Rule of Law Scorecard to track progress in governance.
NACCIMA Director-General Olusola Obadimu linked judicial strength to economic growth, noting Nigeria's private sector contributes over 80% of GDP and 90% of jobs but faces constraints in contract enforcement. He cited the World Justice Project's 2024 ranking of Nigeria 118th out of 142 countries and praised reforms like the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020. Obadimu called for digital case management and specialized commercial courts.
Prof. Bankole Sodipo (SAN) emphasized an independent judiciary's role in democratic consolidation, stating, “A strong legal and regulatory ecosystem is vital for democratic stability and economic growth.”