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By Lukman Olabiyi
The Federal High Court of Nigeria, yesterday, formally ushered in a new era of digital justice with the launch of its electronic filing (e-filing) system in the Lagos Division, marking a decisive shift away from the traditional paper-based process
At the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John T. Tsoho, described the initiative as a critical step toward modernising Nigeria’s judicial system, stressing that digital transformation is now a necessity rather than an option.
According to him, the e-filing platform was designed to enhance transparency, improve efficiency and eliminate long-standing challenges associated with physical case files, including tampering, loss and delays.
“For too long, the corridors of the Federal High Court have been weighed down by mountains of paper files. Today, we declare that era over.
“This is not just about deploying technology; it is about removing the barriers that have historically slowed the administration of justice,” Tsoho said. He explained that the system creates a digital trail for every process, effectively preventing backdating and curbing exploitative practices within the registry.
He added that the new platform allows litigants and legal practitioners to file cases remotely at any time, noting that court registries are no longer restricted by working hours.
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“The registry no longer closes at 2pm. Filing can now be done from anywhere with internet access. The time it takes for a case file to reach a judge has been reduced from days to seconds.
“All payments are processed through integrated channels, ensuring full accountability. Lawyers are also encouraged to adopt digital signatures and utilise the e-affidavit platform for sworn documents,” he added
Also speaking, Chairman of the Judicial Information Technology Policy Committee and Chief Judge of Borno State High Court, Kashim Zannah, underscored the resilience digital systems bring to judicial operations.
He cited the recent flood disaster in Maiduguri, which submerged court facilities, yet left judicial records intact due to digital backup.
“All registries were flooded, but we did not lose a single document because everything was stored in the cloud. Even while the courts were underwater, legal practitioners continued filing cases remotely and court activities went on uninterrupted,” Zannah said. He noted that states such as Borno, Bayelsa, Delta, Niger and Taraba have already embraced e-filing, urging others, including Ekiti, Ebonyi and Ogun, to follow suit.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), represented by Chairman of the Surulere Branch, Mr Anene Nwadukwu, threw its weight behind the initiative, describing it as essential to sustaining Lagos’ reputation as a hub for efficient legal services.
He maintained that the adoption of technology remains the surest path to improving justice delivery and aligning Nigeria’s judiciary with global best practices.
