ELECTRONIC CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE: EXPANDING THE FRONTIERS OF CASE MANAGEMENT TO MEET 21ST CENTURY JUSTICE NEEDS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The 21^st Century is a technology driven age and for the Nigerian judiciary to overcome the myriads of problems bedeviling its case management system ranging from delay in administration of justice to lack of transparency and public confidence, it must embrace technology. This paper found that although the need to overhaul Nigeria’s judicial architecture had been obvious and several steps which had not achieved the level of results needed had been taken in the past, the Covid-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst to awaken stakeholders in the sector to the stark reality that the Nigerian judiciary was fast nose diving into irrelevance and public odium. It changed the narratives from adherence to stereotypes and rigid approaches to the challenges to possibilities of embracing innovative and effective electronic case manage-ment systems and virtual court hearings capable of putting Nigeria in the map of global relevance in justice delivery. The work posited that adopting and implementing an electronic case management system that integrates the operations of relevant institutions in the justice delivery sector and virtual court hearings in suitable cases will reposition the judiciary and put it on a prime pedestal where it can compete favourably with other judiciaries in the world.