The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved contracts for the digitization of the FCT High Courts. The project aims to transform the administration of justice in the territory by replacing the existing manual record-keeping system with a modern and automated judicial management platform. This initiative is expected to commence within two weeks. The digitization project will cover 67 courtrooms across the FCT.
The General Counsel and Mandate Secretary of the FCT Legal Services Secretariat, Salman Dako, disclosed this information after the FCT Administration Executive Council meeting chaired by Wike. The project includes the implementation of an electronic court recording and case management system. This system will enable the High Courts to transition from handwritten court records to digital documentation and electronic management of cases.
The FCT judiciary has faced challenges associated with handwritten court notes, manual filing procedures, and physical tracking of cases. These challenges contribute to delays in the administration of justice. The newly approved contract aims to address these issues by introducing technology-driven processes that improve the speed, accessibility, and organization of judicial records.
The digitization project will resolve persistent challenges linked to manual documentation and handwritten records. The system will enable legal practitioners and litigants to adopt electronic case filing, reducing dependence on physical documents and manual procedures. This move is expected to set a new benchmark for judicial efficiency and court administration in the nation's capital.
According to Dako, some judicial divisions have already started implementing digital court management outside the FCT. He believes that this initiative is the future and that it is time for the FCT to adopt this technology. The contract period is two weeks, after which progress on the implementation of the digitization program is expected to become visible.
The scope of the project includes the digitization of the High Courts in the FCT, digital transformation, and implementation of an electronic court recording and case management system. This will ensure that the High Courts transition from manual recording to digital recording and electronic case management. The initiative is expected to improve the administration of justice in the FCT.
The digitization of the FCT High Courts is a significant step towards modernizing the judicial system in Nigeria. The project will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of court administration, reducing delays and increasing access to justice. The FCT Minister's approval of the contract is a testament to the government's commitment to improving the judicial system in the country.
Key points
- The digitization project will cover 67 courtrooms across the FCT and implement an electronic court recording and case management system.
- The project aims to address challenges associated with handwritten court notes, manual filing procedures, and physical tracking of cases.
- The contract period is two weeks, after which progress on the implementation of the digitization program is expected to become visible.
