Kwara State Chief Judge Abiodun Adebara has called on lawyers and judges in Nigeria to exercise caution when using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in judicial administration. He made this statement during the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year and valedictory session for Justice Hannah Ajayi (rtd.) in Ilorin, the state capital. Adebara emphasized that AI should be used as an aid to, not a substitute for, human judgment and responsibility.
Adebara acknowledged the benefits of AI, including its potential to advance knowledge, productivity, and human development. However, he also highlighted the risks associated with AI, such as generating inaccurate or fabricated information, weakening human judgment, and critical thinking. The Chief Judge stressed that these risks are particularly serious in matters affecting rights, liberties, livelihood, or other important human interests.
To mitigate these risks, Adebara emphasized the need for independent verification of AI-generated information, protection of sensitive information, and scrutiny of systems for accuracy, fairness, security, and bias. He also stressed that professionals, especially those exercising judicial functions, must retain personal responsibility for decisions made with AI assistance.
Adebara provided guidelines for the use of AI in judicial administration, suggesting that lawyers and judges can use AI to assist with research, summarize voluminous materials, identify issues, or improve administrative efficiency. However, he emphasized that they must independently verify materials and personally undertake the judicial reasoning required to reach a decision.
The Chief Judge cited a recent example of a Tanzanian court suspending an advocate for six months for citing cases that did not exist, invented by AI. He warned that relying solely on AI for research, case filing, brief writing, judgment writing, and other tasks would pose a great risk to the administration of justice, as AI lacks human emotion, which is vital in judgment writing.
In his remarks, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by his Deputy, Kayode Alabi, encouraged judicial officers and members of the justice sector to renew their commitment to the speedy, fair, and effective administration of justice. The Governor added that the Government of Kwara State would continue to provide necessary support and create an enabling environment for the judiciary to discharge its constitutional responsibilities effectively.
The event marked the beginning of the 2026/2027 legal year, and Adebara's call for responsible use of AI is seen as a significant step towards ensuring that technology is harnessed to enhance the administration of justice in Nigeria. The use of AI in judicial administration is a growing trend, and Adebara's guidelines are expected to serve as a reference point for lawyers and judges in the country.
Key points
- - The use of AI in judicial administration must be done responsibly and cautiously. - AI should be used as an aid to, not a substitute for, human judgment and responsibility. - Professionals must retain personal responsibility for decisions made with AI assistance.
