Ebonyi State has taken a major step towards transforming its justice administration from an analogue system to a digital justice system with the adoption of the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS) e-Filing Platform.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Ben Uruchi Odoh, described the development as a “paradigm shift” capable of addressing delays associated with physical court files, registry processes and the movement of paper documents.
Odoh, who stated this while speaking on the development, said the digital platform would significantly reduce the burden on litigants and lawyers who often travel long distances to Abakaliki to file processes, retrieve documents or resolve issues associated with physical case files.
According to him, many of the delays experienced in the administration of justice occur before cases get to the courtroom, particularly through the physical movement of files, misplaced documents and registry queues.
He commended the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Hon. Justice Elvis Anegu Ngene, for his vision in driving the reform, as well as the National Judicial Council and its JITPO-COM, led by the Chief Judge of Borno State, Hon. Justice Kasim Zannah, OFR, for their leadership.
The Attorney-General also acknowledged the support of the Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, whose commitment to judicial reform, he said, contributed to the achievement.
Odoh identified four major benefits of the digital justice system, including faster filing and service of court processes, improved access to justice, greater accountability through digital tracking and audit trails, and the restoration of human dignity in the justice process.
He noted that lawyers practising in distant communities such as Afikpo and Onueke would no longer need to lose entire working days travelling to a registry simply to submit physical documents.
The Attorney-General further said the development would have a direct impact on the operations of the Ministry of Justice, describing the ministry as one of the state’s busiest litigants because of its responsibility for prosecuting and defending cases as well as providing legal advice to government.
He added that e-Filing would strengthen the broader criminal justice sector by improving coordination among prosecutors, the police, correctional services, security agencies and other relevant institutions.
Odoh called on all stakeholders to embrace the reform, stressing that technology alone could not deliver justice without the commitment and cooperation of the people operating the system.
He urged the Bench to provide leadership in adopting the platform, while calling on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) branches across the state to promote peer training and ensure that lawyers are adequately equipped to use the system.
The Attorney-General also appealed to registry staff to demonstrate patience and professionalism during the transition and urged law enforcement and security agencies to synchronise their documentation with the digital platform.
He acknowledged that the transition could face challenges, including poor internet connectivity, power supply fluctuations and gaps in digital literacy, but said such challenges should encourage better preparation rather than delay the reform.
According to him, the Ministry of Justice would mandate digital training for all State Counsel across its departments, transition its litigation workflow towards electronic filing and maintain collaboration with the Judiciary and the Bar to provide technical support and public sensitisation.
Odoh said the reform represented another stage in the evolution of justice administration, noting that successive generations of legal practitioners and institutions had a responsibility to leave behind a better judicial system.
“Today, we move justice from the physical courthouse to the secure click of a button,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the ultimate beneficiaries of the reform would be citizens, particularly those in remote parts of Ebonyi State, who would have greater access to justice without the burden of unnecessary physical travel and paperwork.
The Attorney-General said the objective was not merely to adopt technology but to institutionalise speed, transparency and fairness in the administration of justice across Ebonyi State.
