The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has directed departments and units under the ministry to align their operations with existing digital frameworks in order to improve justice delivery across the country.
Fagbemi issued the directive on Thursday at a top management retreat of the Federal Ministry of Justice in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The retreat was themed “Positioning for Digital Transformation.”
The minister noted that the ministry could no longer afford to depend on manual processes, stressing that technology was essential to addressing inefficiencies in Nigeria’s justice system.
“There can be no sustainable growth without access to justice, respect for the rule of law, and a strengthened justice system,” Fagbemi said.
“The criminal justice sector, in particular, faces daunting challenges—overcrowded correctional facilities, delays in trials, and other systemic inefficiencies. These issues require urgent, technology-driven solutions.”
Fagbemi emphasized that the ministry must take the lead in adopting digital tools, including case management systems and artificial intelligence, to enhance service delivery.
“The challenges of today demand that justice never sleeps. With growing legal demands and societal pressures, we must adopt innovative strategies to keep the wheels of justice in motion,” he added.
He further charged all departments to align their work with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25), the National Policy on Justice, and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that these frameworks prioritize technology and data-driven decision-making.
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, who declared the retreat open, commended the minister for pursuing bold reforms in the justice sector.
“In Akwa Ibom, we have fully embraced e-governance. Shortly after I assumed office, I created a standalone Ministry of Science and Digital Economy, and today governance processes are more efficient and transparent,” the governor said.
He disclosed that the state was developing a digital case management system to support its justice ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Digital Economy.
Earlier, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, said the retreat was designed to strengthen institutional capacity in electronic content management, digital case tracking, and integration of artificial intelligence into legal workflows.
