Ex-NBA Spokesman Calls For Tech-Driven Judiciary In New Legal Year
By FRED LONGJOHN OBEH
FORMER Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Douglas Ogbankwa, has urged the judiciary to embrace innovation and technology as the 2025/2026 legal year begins.
Ogbankwa stressed that the new legal year should not only reopen the courts after the annual vacation but also drive reforms to align the justice system with 21st-century realities.
He called for virtual proceedings to become standard practice, noting that many litigants still face challenges due to inadequate digital infrastructure.
Ogbankwa also highlighted other persistent issues—delayed enforcement of judgments, costly appeal processes, congested prisons, and restrictive bail conditions—urging reforms to enhance access to justice.
He added that an annual review of the previous legal year should be institutionalised to identify shortcomings and make meaningful projections for reform.
