The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has issued a strong caution to judicial officials regarding the risks of data breaches, cyber threats, and the challenges posed by the increasing digitalisation of the judiciary.
Justice Kekere-Ekun made this statement on Monday during her keynote address at the opening of the 2025 National Workshop on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which took place at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja. The workshop, themed “The Digital Evolution of Judicial Systems: Technology, Access, and Efficiency,” brought together judicial officials and stakeholders to discuss the impact of technology on the judicial system.
Represented by Justice Salisu Garba, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, the CJN emphasized that with the judiciary’s increasing reliance on digital systems to handle sensitive cases, files, and classified government information, it has become a prime target for cyber-attacks.
“The integrity of court records must be safeguarded, as any compromise could have significant legal and national security repercussions,” Justice Kekere-Ekun noted. She stressed that a robust cybersecurity framework is crucial to protecting judicial data from unauthorized access, hacking, and corruption.
Furthermore, the CJN highlighted the need for judicial ICT staff to undergo rigorous training in cybersecurity best practices, encryption technologies, and secure data storage solutions to mitigate the risks associated with digital systems.
Justice Kekere-Ekun commended the National Judicial Council (NJC) for taking proactive steps to ensure the judiciary remains at the forefront of technological advancements. One such initiative is the Judiciary Information Technology Policy, which she said has provided a strategic framework for the integration of ICT into court systems.
In his welcome address, Mr. Olumoh Abdulazeez, the Secretary of the National Judicial Institute, underscored the importance of the annual workshop in equipping court personnel with the skills needed to navigate the evolving technological landscape. He noted that effective implementation of technology could greatly enhance access to justice, improving efficiency and reducing barriers for litigants.
“The use of technology in the judiciary can streamline processes, enhance transparency, and reduce delays in delivering justice,” Abdulazeez said.
The workshop represents a critical step toward modernising Nigeria’s judicial system and ensuring that the judiciary adapts effectively to the digital age while safeguarding its vital data and systems.
