By Nnenna Eze
To strengthen Nigeria’s criminal justice system, the Public and Private Development Centre’s Court Administration and Case Management (CACM) project, supported by the US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), represents a significant effort to enhance Nigeria’s criminal justice administration. The project focuses on improving capacity, efficiency, and accountability within the Nigerian courts, with key objectives including enhanced case management, evidence control, scheduling systems, and overall court administration processes.
In 2023, upon assessment of the select courts in the 3 pilot states, Nasarawa Plateau and Kaduna, our findings revealed significant challenges plaguing the judicial system. Judges grappled with the daunting task of writing judgments, taking notes, and simultaneously observing litigants’ body language. This multitasking burden resulted in delayed judgments, exacerbating an already overburdened system. Concurrently, correctional officers faced logistical hurdles in transporting inmates from correctional centers to courts. Weather conditions, transportation costs, and security risks compounded the difficulties, further impeding the legal process. Additionally, inadequate case and evidence management practices led to disorganized and unsupervised case files, hindering effective tracking and monitoring of case progress.
Another key challenge we saw was the lack of secure facilities in magistrate courts for typing and printing confidential court proceedings, which posed significant security and confidentiality risks. Clerical activities conducted in external business centers outside court premises increased the likelihood of leaked court judgments before official pronouncements.
During our recent visit to our stakeholders in Nasarawa State, we visited all of the project’s interventions to assess their impact and ensure their sustainability. One of the project’s pivotal interventions is the deployment of speech-to-text facilities in select courtrooms in Nasarawa State. Recognizing the challenge faced by judges in simultaneously writing judgments and observing litigants’ body language, the introduction of the speech-to-text facility accelerates court proceedings, eliminates manual transcription delays, and enhances transparency. This initiative not only streamlines administrative tasks but also fosters a swift dispensation of justice.
PPDC and INL team with the Comptroller of Corrections, Nasarawa state
PPDC and INL team with the Attorney General, Nasarawa state
PPDC and INL team with the Chief Justice Nasarawa state
“We are not taking the interventions for granted, as they have aided our work in the courtroom, and we are committed to ensuring the expansion and sustainability of the speech-to-text and virtual courts.” -Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Honourable Justice Aisha Bashir
The implementation of virtual courts in custodial centers has addressed significant logistical challenges faced by correctional officers. By enabling remote hearings, this innovative solution reduces the need for physically transporting individuals in custody to courtrooms, saving time and resources and minimizing security risks.
A virtual court hearing from the Nasarawa State Custodial Center
I had a case that was heard virtually from the custodial center, and it was like a dream come true. To be able to use such technology will improve the justice sector in Nasarawa State.” – Honourable Justice Simon Aboki
The project also addresses the critical issue of case file arrangement and management. By meticulously sorting, indexing, and cataloging criminal case files in the High Court across pilot states, the initiative enhances the reliability and security of legal documentation. Standardized case-filing units not only ensure easy retrieval but also significantly reduce the risk of loss or damage, thereby improving overall case management efficiency.
We had the issue of unsecured case files; however, with the intervention, case files are sorted and kept in secure racks for easy retrieval – Nicholas Abunduga, chief state counsel, Ministry of Justice, Nasarawa State.
Case files before and after PPDC’s intervention
Additionally, establishing a magistrate secretarial pool equipped with essential facilities for typing and printing confidential court proceedings addresses security and confidentiality concerns. This initiative not only enhances the secure handling of sensitive court documents but also provides a source of revenue for magistrate courts. It signifies a significant step towards ensuring a more robust and confidential judicial process.
The commendable support and adoption of the project by the good people and various government arms of Nasarawa State highlight a commitment to sustainability. Provisions for the maintenance of deployed facilities in subsequent budgets and the provision of subscriptions for virtual hearings and SMS messaging in the 2024 budget underscore a proactive approach toward ensuring the long-term success and impact of these transformative interventions. Additionally, the invitation extended to PPDC to join the ACMC committee further emphasizes the collaborative nature of the project, paving the way for continued innovation and improvement in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
Before PPDC’s intervention, lawyers were hesitant to handle cases; however, with the implementation of the Case Management System, case files are uploaded and notifications are sent. The AG can see when a case’s limit has elapsed. This has resulted in a stronger synergy between the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary. Nicholas Abunduga, chief state counsel, Ministry of Justice, Nasarawa State.
The Public and Private Development Centre is committed through its Access to Justice program to ensure speedy dispensation of justice across our pilot states. The Court Administration and Case Management (CACM) project, is paving the way for Nigeria’s criminal justice system to become more efficient, transparent, and equitable by addressing systemic issues and leveraging cutting-edge technologies.