The Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) has described as unacceptable the continued use of manual form of recording court proceedings in courts across the country and has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to take urgent steps to address the situation.

President of the CSLS, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, made the call yesterday in Abuja, during a media parley with journalists on the challenges confronting the country’s justice.

Prof. Akinseye-George, who expressed concerns over the deteriorating state of the justice system in Nigeria, observed that a major cause of delays in the administration of justice has to do with the working conditions of judges, lamented that in this present day of technological advancement judges still write proceedings in long hand.

While stressing that, “the continued reliance on manual, longhand recording of court proceedings is no longer acceptable,” the senior lawyer argued that “If we can use technology to enhance efficiency in our personal and professional lives, there is no justification for failing to apply technological solutions to expedite and enhance justice delivery. As the saying goes, “justice delayed is justice denied”‘.

The centre therefore appealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria to establish a clear deadline for the nationwide adoption of; E-filing of court processes; E-service of court documents; E-assignment of cases; E-arraignment procedures; E-recording and transcription of court proceedings and E-monitoring of judicial performance.

“These and other critical reforms embedded in the National Minimum Standards will be key discussion points at our upcoming National Sensitisation Webinar and National Technical Review and Evaluation Conference (NTREC),” he added.

According to the centre, the webinar will create awareness about the National Minimum Standards and provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss their implementation.

Besides the webinar, CSLS also plans a National Technical Review and Evaluation Conference (NTREC) in February 25-27, 2025, where all stakeholders from federal and state levels would be brought together to assess compliance with the ACJA and ACJLs, share insights, and identify solutions to implementation challenges.

“During the National Sensitisation Webinar, we will present findings from our 2024 Baseline Study on the state of implementation of ACJ legislation across the country. Representatives from various states will also provide updates on their respective jurisdictions.

“Additionally, the CSLS will verify these reports through our ACJA Rangers, who are stationed nationwide to monitor compliance. The insights gathered will be used to update the National Scoreboard, which ranks states based on their implementation of ACJ legislation,” he added.

Follow Our WhatsApp Channel _______________________________________________________________________

[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials

“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.

Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation

______________________________________________________________________ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. Bonus: Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.

How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com

Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626

______________________________________________________________________ “Bridging Theory And Courtroom Practice” — Hagler Sunny Okorie, Nathaniel Ngozi Ikeocha Unveil ‘Functional’ Tort Law Book For Nigerian Legal System The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209. ______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com