President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), has applauded the Supreme Court of Nigeria for introducing its Electronic Filing System and the Nigeria Case Management System, describing the move as a major step towards modernising the country’s justice system.
Speaking at the official unveiling attended by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, Justices of the Supreme Court, the Chief Registrar and other stakeholders, Osigwe said the apex court had demonstrated its commitment to innovation instead of remaining tied to outdated practices.
According to him, institutions that fail to adapt to changing realities risk becoming irrelevant. Drawing a comparison with the once-dominant technology company Nokia, he noted that the company’s decline serves as a reminder that embracing innovation is essential for survival and growth.
He stressed that technology has become indispensable to legal practice, adding that a modern, transparent and efficient justice system can only be achieved if the judiciary continues to adopt digital solutions.
Osigwe said the NBA has also embraced digital transformation through initiatives such as the relaunch of its Digital Stamp and Seal and the introduction of the NBA Digital Signature Studio, both aimed at improving efficiency, security and convenience in legal practice.
He further pledged the association’s full support for the successful implementation of the Supreme Court’s E-Filing System, revealing that the NBA will organise nationwide awareness campaigns and capacity-building programmes to equip lawyers with the skills needed to effectively utilise the new platform.
The NBA president congratulated the Chief Justice, the Justices of the Supreme Court, the Chief Registrar and the entire Nigerian judiciary for what he described as a bold and visionary achievement. He expressed confidence that the new digital platforms would improve case management, reduce delays, expand access to justice and bring Nigeria’s judicial system closer to global best practices.
Osigwe concluded that the future of justice has already begun, urging legal practitioners and stakeholders across the country to embrace the digital transformation of the judiciary.