Meeting the Need for a Technologically Driven Justice Delivery System: The Elixir of Rights and Judicial Expediency

Abstract

The quality of justice is found in its efficacy while the promptness of justice determines its effect. Hence, the aphorism, “justice delayed is justice denied”. It is well known fact that the justice system in Nigeria, like many developing countries, is like igniting a snail on a hundred-kilometer journey. The problem of delay in justice is compounded in an unforeseen period like the world’s current state of the Coronavirus pandemic. By virtue of the national lock-down, the justice system has been on a halt and as such, every aspect of life which is tied to a virile judicial system is also affected. The aim of this paper therefore, is an attempt to analyse how technology can be employed for an effective justice delivery system while the pandemic situation persists. This exercise begins with an examination of the legal provisions available in Nigerian law to meet the demands for a technological-driven effective justice system. This is done by analysing the various provisions of the Evidence Act, High Courts Civil Procedure Rules, Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of States, Courts’ Practice Directions and other relevant provisions. Hence, the thrust of this paper is to elicit palpable elixirs aimed to achieve the decongestion of courts and improve access both during emergencies such as the COVID-19 situation and in the normal course of justice delivery thereafter.