Invigoration of E-Judicial System in Nigeria: Challenges And Improvement Strategies to Achieve SDG 2030

Abstract

Over the years, judicial system in Nigeria has been known for its conservatism and conventional methods of administering justice. Considering the realities of the global socio- economic vicissitudes, there is urgent need to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the judicial system in Nigeria. Therefore, this paper examines the e-judicial system in Nigeria, challenges and improvement strategies to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 of the United Nations agenda 2030. The paper explored scholarly works focused on judiciary system to dissect the concept of e-judiciary system and identified the challenges faced by the judiciary system in Nigeria to include inadequate availability of ICT facilities and maintenance, inadequate availability of stable electricity, lack of ICT skills by judicial personnel, poor network system and unauthorized access to web portal by hackers. From the findings of the study, strategies to invigorate e-judicial system in Nigeria include, provision of adequate ICT facilities by federal and state government, regular appraisal and upgrading of the available ICT facilities, provision of stable electricity, monitoring of telecommunication industry activities by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure maximum efficiency, development of a Unified E-judicial Security Portal in form of encryption keys to provide strict access to courts’ websites, organization of workshop, seminar and conferences to train judicial personnel on utilization of e-judiciary system in the administration of justice. The study further recommends that the Nigerian Bar Association should advocate the need for e-judicial system in various programmes they organize.