In a major push to modernise Nigeria’s judicial system, judges in Ekiti State will soon be able to handle cases remotely following the rollout of a fully digital case management platform aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and access to justice.
The initiative, known as the Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS), enables judges to access case files, review evidence, and deliver rulings from any location, reducing the need for constant physical court appearances. Lawyers will also be able to file, track, and manage cases electronically from anywhere.
The development was disclosed by the Chief Judge of Borno State and Chairman of the Judicial Information Technology Policy Committee of Nigeria (JITPO), Hon. Justice Kashim Zanna, during a roundtable discussion in Ado-Ekiti on the enrollment of the Ekiti State High Court into the NCMS platform.
The event, organised by the Ekiti State Judiciary, was designed to familiarise legal practitioners and stakeholders with the system’s features, including e-filing, legal mail, and electronic case management tools.
Justice Zanna explained that the NCMS is an initiative of the National Judicial Council (NJC), implemented through JITPO, to automate court processes and move Nigeria’s judiciary away from its long-standing reliance on paper-based operations.
“Our justice system has remained largely paper-based, and that no longer guarantees effective and efficient justice delivery,” he said. “Nigerians are already used to fast digital services in banking, travel, and other sectors. The judiciary cannot afford to remain analog.”
He revealed that Ekiti State has already procured the necessary hardware and completed staff training, adding that stakeholders have shown strong enthusiasm for the reform, which is expected to become fully operational soon.
Justice Zanna urged judges to embrace the transition despite initial challenges, noting that the digital system would enhance institutional efficiency, improve work-life balance, and strengthen public confidence in the judiciary. He also advised lawyers to upgrade their digital skills and invest in basic technology such as laptops and case-management software.
“With this system, judges can perform their duties from any location, sometimes without physically attending court from the beginning to the end of a case,” he said. “This will ensure citizens receive timely justice and restore confidence in the justice system.”
The NCMS rollout in Ekiti State represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s judicial reform agenda, signalling a broader shift toward digital legal practice and improved justice delivery nationwide.
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