Senator Lalong chairs UniJos alumni lecture, says Justice delivery in digital age needs safeguards

Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District and former Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong says Nigeria must pay attention to digital innovations in order to harness its potentials and guard against its disadvantages in justice administration.

Lalong was speaking while Chairing the Distinguished Alumni Lecture of the University of Jos delivered by Chief Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

During the Lecture held at the University of Jos Naraguta campus, Lalong said the topic of this lecture “The Nigerian justice system in a digital age: opportunities, challenges and the road ahead” was well considered as the world has become not only global, but highly digital with huge consequences.

He said the digital age has impacted and is changing virtually all professions including law which has overtime been considered a conservative and traditional profession. Without doubt, the legal profession is being impacted rapidly such that those who operate in the learned profession must work hard to catch up with digital innovations.

“Thanks to information technology, the internet and latest developments in Artificial Intelligence, the bench and bar are now transformed in ways never seen before. From virtual court hearings to judges relying on digital devices to take notes, the old ways of dispensing justice are giving way to the new. Even lawyers today have more opportunities for research and presentation in courts because of the advantages of digitization” he said.

Lalong emphasized that what remains paramount is the ability of Nigerians to access justice in a fair and unbiased manner with or without technology. This means that Nigeria must be a step ahead and look carefully at the impact of technology on the justice system with a view to ensuring that justice remains sacrosanct.

He commended the University for selecting Chief Fagbemi as guest lecturer describing him as capable, tested and trusted with years of experience.

Senator Lalong assured that as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, the Senate is very concerned about the impact of the digital age on the Justice system and will continue to make laws that will enable the nation harness the opportunities and respond to the challenges that come with it for the good of all.

In his Lecture, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Chief Lateef Fagbemi thanked the management of his alma mater for considering him to be invited to deliver the lecture.

He submitted that technology has greatly impacted the delivery of justice by adding speed, transparency, documentation, deeper research, efficiency and quality of both the bench and the bar.

The Guest lecturer cited countries like Singapore, Canada, Estonia, US, UK among others that have made progress in deploying technology towards justice administration using virtual hearings, AI facilitated judgement drafting and research, filing among other.

Fagbemi said already, Nigeria is making some progress in digital applications for justice delivery at the State and Federal levels, but so much needs to be done to strengthen it.

He however warned that digital adoption cannot replace judges discretion and as such there must be a legal framework, training and equipping the justice system to be in tandem with the standards of legal profession.

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang said the lecture is very apt and provides the platform to interrogate the use of technology for justice delivery.

Vice Chancellor University of Jos Prof. Ishaya Tanko said the University of Jos is proud of Chief Lateef Fagbemi not only as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, but for his impact and achievements in the legal profession where he became the first product of the University law graduate who attained the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Plaques were presented to the to the dignitaries by the President University of Jos Alumni Association.