Justice Sector Under Pressure, says Fagbemi

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has pledged the Federal Government’s backing for reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s justice delivery system.

Speaking in Abuja at the JusticeTechNG Hackathon and Accelerator Demo Day, Fagbemi said the sector was under severe strain, with delays and inefficiencies undermining public confidence.

“The justice system in Nigeria, like justice systems throughout the world, is under considerable pressure. Case backlogs persist in our courts, creating delays that amount to a denial of justice for many citizens,” he said.

He noted that fragmented data and largely manual processes continue to slow proceedings. According to him, these shortcomings affect ordinary Nigerians most. “A mother seeking maintenance for her children waits years for a judgment. A criminal defendant languishes in pretrial detention far beyond any reasonable period,” he stated, adding that uncertainty in contract enforcement also weakens investor confidence.

Fagbemi said technology could bridge many of the gaps but warned that its deployment must be carefully managed. “It must respect due process and the rights of parties. It must protect privacy and prevent unauthorised access to sensitive information,” he said.

He maintained that JusticeTechNG aligns with the Federal Government’s reform agenda and assured that the Ministry of Justice remains committed to initiatives that “strengthen the justice sector, empower young Nigerians, and uphold the rule of law”.

President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, represented by Justice Okon Abang, said digital tools must be practical and capable of addressing adjudication challenges.

Earlier, organiser Fernandez Marcus-Obiene said the accelerator would encourage local investment in justice-focused innovation. He disclosed that winners of the hackathon would receive prizes of N10 million, N7 million and N5 million.