The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice in Nigeria, Lateef Fagbemi, has pledged support for technology-driven reforms aimed at overhauling its justice delivery system, warning that delays, fragmented data and manual processes are eroding public trust and confidence.
Speaking in Abuja at the JusticeTechNG Hackathon and Accelerator Demo Day, the AGF acknowledged that Nigeria’s justice system is under “considerable pressure,” mirroring strains seen across developing and advanced economies alike.
According to him, “Case backlogs persist in our courts, creating delays that amount to denial of justice for many citizens.”
“Data remains fragmented across multiple agencies and jurisdictions. Processes are still largely manual in many areas,” he added.
Fagbemi underscored the human and economic consequences of inefficiency.
“A mother seeking maintenance for her children waits years for a judgment. A business seeking to enforce a contract faces uncertainty that undermines planning and investment. A criminal defendant languishes in pretrial detention far beyond any reasonable period.”
He added that uncertainty in dispute resolution drives capital elsewhere, affecting investor confidence and raising risk premiums in Africa’s largest economy.
While championing technology as a solution, Fagbemi cautioned against reckless digitisation.
“The deployment of technology must be intentional and carefully managed. It must respect due process and the rights of parties. It must protect privacy and prevent unauthorised access to sensitive information. It must recognise and preserve institutional roles rather than centralising power inappropriately.”
He said the initiative aligns with the development agenda of President Bola Tinubu, adding that reform commitments are reflected in budget allocations, policy initiatives and partnerships across the justice sector.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Monica Dongban-Mensem, represented by Justice Okon Abang, stressed that any digital tool must be “user-friendly and able to solve adjudication-related challenges.”
Lawmakers and senior judges, including Justice Olayinka Faji and Borno State Chief Judge Justice Kashim Zannah, also endorsed the programme.
The JusticeTechNG initiative, designed to harness digital innovation for judicial reform, forms part of a broader federal strategy to modernise governance.
The programme was convened by the President’s Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform, ICT/Digital and Innovative Technology, Fernandez Marcus-Obiene, in collaboration with JusticeTech Nigeria Limited/Gte and Arravo Technology Limited.
Cash prizes of ₦10 million, ₦7 million and ₦5 million were announced for top-performing hackathon teams, signalling an effort to attract young innovators into institutional reform.