The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has unveiled a series of landmark reforms aimed at modernising the Supreme Court and improving the speed, efficiency and transparency of justice delivery across the country.
Speaking on Monday at the opening of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch Law Week 2026, the CJN announced that the apex court will soon deploy a National Case Management System (NCMS) to digitally manage cases from filing through to final judgment.
According to Justice Kekere-Ekun, the technology-driven platform is designed to improve case tracking, strengthen court administration, reduce delays and enhance transparency in the judicial process.
She also announced that the Supreme Court will officially unveil the Supreme Court (Mandatory Upload of Electronic Copies of Processes, Record of Appeal, and Other Matters) Practice Directions, 2026 on July 1, 2026.
Under the new Practice Directions, legal practitioners will be required to upload electronic copies of court processes, records of appeal and other relevant documents alongside the existing paper filing system.
The CJN said the initiative would streamline registry operations, improve access to case files by Justices and significantly speed up the determination of appeals.
“The objective is not merely to digitise existing procedures but to strengthen the administration of justice through carefully considered technological integration that remains faithful to constitutional values and judicial independence,” she said.
Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasised that while technology and artificial intelligence can support legal research, case management and administrative efficiency, judicial decision-making must remain the responsibility of judges.
“Technology is an instrument of justice; it can never become its substitute,” she stated, adding that the constitutional duty of determining rights and obligations must continue to rest with human judges who are accountable under the law.
She called on judges, lawyers, lawmakers, academic institutions and technology experts to collaborate in building a digital justice system tailored to Nigeria’s legal framework and constitutional principles.
According to the CJN, the reforms are expected to modernise judicial administration, improve access to justice, reduce case backlogs and strengthen public confidence in the nation’s judiciary.
