Sen. Lalong Chairs Unijos Alumni Lecture; Justice Delivery In Digital Age Needs Safeguards
From Tongnaan Bawa, Jos
Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District and former Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong says Nigeria must pay attention to digital innovations in order to harness its potentials and guard against its disadvantages in justice administration.
Lalong was speaking while Chairing the Distinguished Alumni Lecture of the University of Jos delivered by Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
During the Lecture held at the University of Jos Naraguta campus, Lalong said the topic of this lecture “The Nigerian justice system in a digital age: opportunities, challenges and the road ahead” was well considered as the world has become not only global, but highly digital with huge consequences.
He said the digital age has impacted and is changing virtually all professions including law which has overtime been considered a conservative and traditional profession.
Lalong emphasized that what remains paramount is the ability of Nigerians to access justice in a fair and unbiased manner with or without technology.
In his Lecture, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Chief Lateef Fagbemi thanked the management of his alma mater for considering him to be invited to deliver the lecture.
He submitted that technology has greatly impacted the delivery of justice by adding speed, transparency, documentation, deeper research, efficiency and quality of both the bench and the bar.
Fagbemi said already, Nigeria is making some progress in digital applications for justice delivery at the State and Federal levels, but so much needs to be done to strengthen it.
He however warned that digital adoption cannot replace judges discretion and as such there must be a legal framework, training and equipping the justice system to be in tandem with the standards of legal profession.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang said the lecture is very apt and provides the platform to interrogate the use of technology for justice delivery.
Vice Chancellor University of Jos Professor Ishaya Tanko said the University of Jos is proud of Lateef Fagbemi not only as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, but for his impact and achievements in the legal profession where he became the first product of the University law graduate who attained the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Plaques were presented to the to the dignitaries by the President University of Jos Alumni Association.
