Lagos goes digital

•Lagos Judiciary attains another landmark
that could expedite litigation and ease
judges’ burden
Lagos State has continued its laudable court
reforms, which started during the Bola Tinubu
era, of easing judges’ load and speeding up the
judicial process. The latest continuation of this
reform is digitalising the judicial process in
such a way that you can sit in your office, and
with the touch of the computer, file an action.
For the computer-literate, this would go a long
way to lessen the tedium of filing cases, as well
as saving costs – transport costs, for instance
– as well as lessening routine physical exertion
in hitherto going through such court
processes. It is indeed a thing of cheer and
other states will do well to follow this laudable
step.
As part of the processes of reform, judges have
not only been provided with i-Pads, the
computer tablet, a batch of no less than 22
judges has also received training by a Lagos
software provider on the new digital
operational status.
The training, tailored to deepen Chief Judge
Ayotunde Phillips’ vision of expedited justice in
the state, with the aid of information and
computer technology (ICT), included robust
case/document management system,
monitoring and viewing cause lists on the
computer. The document management system
includes the National Judicial Council (NJC)
monthly report form for judges, through
which they can, online, prepare and file their
monthly performance returns to the council.
The software on which the batch of judges
trained would also help to monitor their
performances online, aside from judges
themselves monitoring their performance
weekly or monthly. Also, peer review would be
easier, with judges online exchanging ideas.
Aside from judges, the government also plans,
as part of the reforms, appropriate training for
court registrars to bring them in sync with the
new dispensation.
The stress on training and retraining, on the
new digital dispensation, is welcome. Indeed,
adequate training holds the key to its success.
It is imperative therefore that the government
sustains training for all cadres of judicial
workers. It must be noted: computerisation is
not an end in itself. It is a means to an end –
and that golden end is speedy but accurate
dispensation of justice.
Resources may be scarce. But money spent to
strengthen the judiciary is a patriotic
investment to deepen democracy. A robust
judiciary is vital to democracy. Democracy
itself is vital to development, which itself
engenders prosperity. So, the Lagos State
government should continue along this
progressive line.
As other states are advised to follow the Lagos
example, the federal authorities should not
tarry in releasing funds meant for the
judiciary, charged through the Consolidated
Fund. Just as investment in gadgetry is
important, investment in judges’ welfare is
even more important. If everyone does his or
her job well, Nigeria’s judiciary can only be
better for it.
But even as all these reforms are going on, the
judges themselves must commit themselves
anew to delivering justice without fear or
favour. A just nation is a healthy nation. So,
the judicial health of the country, where truth
and justice prevail, is in the hands of its
judges. Judges in the Lagos judiciary should
take up that patriotic challenge.
Still ICT, like a car, is a good and pleasant
servant. But it could be a hideous master. That
is why every step should be taken to protect
systems integrity in the new dispensation.
Every ICT system of necessity should guard
against hacking. It would be tragic indeed to
digitalise the judicial system, only for it to fall
victim to hackers.