As the judiciary in Nigeria evolves to grapple with modern day challenges, the Oyo State judiciary has created a technological one-stop-solution to the challenges of justice delivery in the state. While stakeholders are excited at the development, all eyes are on the institution to see the effect of its latest innovation in the state’s justice sector.
Being the third arm of government and an institution that affects life across all spheres, there is so much attention on the judiciary and this puts on it the pressure to constantly search for the ideal and perfection. But while perfection is virtually unattainable by humans, the human race continues to put in the effort to search for more effective ways to dispense justice in order to block loopholes that affect not only the integrity of the judiciary but the justice system itself.
And in this democratic era where many seem to celebrate the failure of others than their success, the judiciary has been at the receiving end of the distrust that has eaten into the fabric of the Nigerian society. This is why the Nigerian judiciary across the states continues to evolve to find a better system that will surmount the inherent challenges.
And based on peculiarities of different environment, each state judiciary continues to try its best to discharge its duties not considering the problems it has to contend with. In Oyo State, the judiciary had under the current Chief Judge, Justice Munta Abimbola, the judiciary has evolved to contend with realities of the era by embracing technology and rule amendments that allow for quick dispensation of justice and justice delivery that can stand up to scrutiny by fulfilling the tripod of justice delivery; justice to victim, justice to the defendant and justice to the society.
He has risen beyond the conservativeness of the Bar and the Bench to introduce the use of technology within the state judiciary to make work easier and faster. This is part of the reasons that many legal practitioners within the state believe that history would be kind to him for his innovative measures and several reforms that have contributed to the development of justice dispensation in the state judiciary.
His recent technological advancement for the state judiciary is the Court Management Information System (CoMiS); an information management system that enables the state judiciary and other relevant stakeholders find a one-stop-shop for all relevant administrative activities as it relates to the judicial arm of government across the state.
This new system which involves gradual use of automated systems in the management of the courts and the judiciary as an arm of government, provides for e-filing of cases, appeals and interlocutory applications, case management, online reporting of court proceedings, online processing of applications, affidavits, probate management and administrative processes, digital ware-housing and archiving of case files among others.
When the innovation was launched, Justice Abimbola, said lawyers in the state can now file cases before courts within the state from the comfort of their offices with the Case Management System while judges can also monitor cases in their courts from the confines of their offices, adding that introducing automation such as the Case Management System into the court system in the state will speed up justice delivery as few things will now be done manually.
And to make the system a success, there had been series of trainings for lawyers, judges and judicial officers in the state on E-filing and Case Management System; which is the use of technology for processing information, storing, retrieving and sending information, includes registrars, cashiers, judges, lawyers and other judicial staff.
The Chief Judge explained that with the adoption of the system which basically thrives on ICT, the administration of justice will be greatly enhanced and it will speed up the conclusion of trials, adding that “to take a leap in that direction is this opportunity now afforded us in Oyo State Judiciary by the National Judicial Council in conjunction with Gavel to assist in training staff and stakeholders. We greatly thank the NJC for picking us as one of the pilot states and we also thank the Gavel group.”
The Chief Judge of Borno state, Justice Kashim Zannah on his part said the Nigeria Case Management System will lead the way for the country in the use of technology for the citizens, adding that the Oyo State judiciary got the benefit of a pilot state not because the Chief Judge is his friend but because he is a dogged, determined and persistent judge, adding that “I congratulate Oyo State Judiciary and commend the Chief Judge for being dogged in ensuring the benefit comes to the people of Oyo State.
“The system developed by the National Judicial Council is one of the best in the world. In fact, those who know it attests to the fact that it is the one that gives the most control to the judiciary. Already, seven countries that are not in Africa that were believed to have more advanced and functional systems have come to copy this because they realize that this one is more functional and effective,” he had stated.
And last week, there was a series on new Case Management training within the state. Speaking on the latest training, Emmanuel Fawole, the Head of ICT in Oyo State judiciary stated that Court Management Information System (CoMiS) is one system that encompasses all aspects of legal work like e-affidavit and activities of the probate registry with the intention of removing cumbersome steps in justice delivery.
He added that “it is like different aspects coming together on one platform and with the support of the Nigerian Judicial Council, we will look at how to integrate everything together and I am sure it will be convenient for the staff. You can see that from their contributions, our staffs are willing to learn and eager to incorporate this system into our work frame.”
He explained further that the process involves gradual use of automated systems in the management of courts and the judiciary as an arm of government by employing the use of robust relational databases, digital archiving, analytics, proceedings management and reporting techniques, which aim at gradually phasing out the traditional pen, paper, and hard copy filing processes/procedures and other activities.
“For instance, the e-affidavit platform is a stand-alone, cloud-based platform that enables relevant authorities (principally, the courts) to generate and store affidavits for affiants and other interested parties who may want to verify the authenticity of the affidavits. The platform would also allow all and sundry to electronically apply for affidavits. This will enable the Judiciary and her stakeholders provide and enjoy improved service delivery.
“The session we had was an introductory Session to CoMIS. The full training will be held during the deployment phase of the system. The system was presented to representatives from Oyo State High Court’s ICT Department, Litigation Registry, Probate Registry, Press Department and Citizens Gavel. This enabled all involved to ask questions on areas of concern as well prepare them for further deliberations during the implementation phase.
“The management of our courts and the judiciary as an arm of government, in the 21st century requires automated systems that support robust relational databases, digital archiving, analytics, proceedings management and reporting techniques, which aims at gradually phasing out the traditional pen, paper, and hard copy filing processes/procedures. This new order of automation will enable the judiciary and its stakeholders provide and enjoy improved service delivery, respectively,” he said.
As the Court Management Information System (CoMiS) takes off in Oyo judiciary, expectations are high that this latest court solution will help to automate court processes from filing of cases to their final disposal.
