By Rotimi Ojomoyela, Ado-Ekiti

In a major step toward modernising Nigeria’s judicial system, judges in Ekiti State will soon be able to work from home or any location, following the rollout of a fully digital case management system aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and access to justice.

The initiative, known as the Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS), allows judges to access case files, review evidence, and issue rulings remotely, eliminating the need to appear in court throughout the duration of cases. Lawyers will also be able to file and manage cases electronically from any location.

The Chief Judge of Borno State and Chairman of the Judicial Information Technology Policy Committee of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kashim Zanna, disclosed this during a roundtable discussion in Ado-Ekiti on the enrollment of the Ekiti State High Court into the NCMS platform. The event was organised by the Ekiti State Judiciary to introduce legal professionals and stakeholders to the system’s features, including legal mail and e-filing applications.

Justice Zanna explained that the NCMS is an initiative of the National Judicial Council (NJC), implemented through the Judicial Information Technology Policy Committee (JITPO), designed to streamline and automate court processes and modernise Nigeria’s largely paper-based judicial system.

“Our justice system has been paper-based, and that no longer guarantees effective and efficient justice delivery,” he said. “Nigerian society is already accustomed to faster services from banking to travel bookings, and the judiciary cannot afford to remain analog.”

The Chief Judge noted that Ekiti State has already acquired the required hardware and completed staff training under the initiative. Stakeholders have shown strong enthusiasm for the reform, which is expected to be fully operational soon.

He urged judges to embrace the digital transition despite initial discomfort, highlighting the benefits for institutional efficiency, personal well-being, and public confidence in the courts. Lawyers were also advised to upskill and invest in basic technology, including laptops and case-management tools, to adapt to the new system.

“Judges can now perform their work from any location, sometimes without even visiting the court from the beginning to the end of a case, ensuring citizens have confidence in our justice system and receive the justice they deserve,” Justice Zanna said.

The NCMS rollout in Ekiti State marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s judicial reform, signalling a shift toward digital legal practice and improved delivery of justice across the country.

Source; Vanguard News Nigeria