At the 16th Annual Lecture of the National Association of Judicial Correspondents, NAJUC, held on Thursday, retired Lagos State judge, Justice Folashade Bankole-Oki, advocated for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s justice system, emphasising the critical role of technology, responsible media, and public engagement in restoring public trust.
She spoke on the theme: “Strengthening the Administration of Justice Through Technology, International Best Practices, Media, and Public Feedback.”
According to Justice Bankole-Oki “There is an urgent need to strengthen the administration of justice in Nigeria. Public trust has waned—and rightly so.”
Highlighting the media’s essential role, Justice Bankole-Oki warned that certain regulations, such as mandatory blogger registration, could infringe on freedom of expression. She called for accurate, responsible reporting, noting that “Judicial correspondents bear a sensitive and essential role.”
She urged legal professionals and judicial institutions to embrace innovations like virtual hearings, online dispute resolution, automated transcription, paperless trials, and e-filing—tools already making strides within the Lagos State Judiciary—to address delays and case backlogs.
Justice Bankole-Oki also called on the National Judicial Council, NJC, and state judicial commissions to prioritise tech-driven reforms, including the implementation of secure digital evidence storage systems.
Acknowledging the rise of artificial intelligence in legal research and case management, she cautioned against over reliance on AI tools.
On the subject of media responsibility, she warned against misleading headlines and biased reporting that could erode public confidence in the judiciary. “Technology, media, international benchmarks, and public feedback are no longer optional—they are essential for building an efficient, transparent justice system,” she submitted.
Another retired Federal High Court judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, reiterated the need for the judiciary to adapt to technological advancements, particularly AI.
The chairman of the event, Justice Taiwo applauded the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s move to publish judicial nominees for public input, describing it as a major step toward transparency.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, ably represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Michael Ezekwe, also spoke at the event, lauding the media’s role in the anti-corruption fight and called for unity, courage, and resilience in the ongoing campaign.
Representing the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the judiciary and judicial correspondents to ensure accurate reporting.
NAJUC honours EFCC boss
The Chairman, NAJUC Olugbenga Soyele in his welcome address described the event’s theme as both timely and essential, highlighting the indispensable role of the media in building a more transparent and efficient justice system.
The event concluded with an Award of Excellence presented to EFCC’s Chairman, Olukoyede, for his unwavering commitment to combating corruption.
