By Nkechinyere Ewa
Ebonyi State has commenced the transition from an analogue justice administration system to a digital system with the deployment of the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS) e-Filing Platform.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Ben Uruchi Odoh, disclosed this while speaking at the commencement of the digital justice initiative in Abakaliki.
Odoh described the development as a “paradigm shift” capable of addressing delays associated with physical filing, movement and retrieval of court documents.
According to him, many delays in the administration of justice occur before cases get to the courtroom, particularly through the physical movement of files, misplaced documents and long registry queues.
He said the NCMS e-Filing Platform would enable legal processes to be filed and served electronically, reducing the need for lawyers and litigants to travel long distances to court registries.
The Attorney General said the digital system would also strengthen accountability through electronic tracking and audit trails, while preserving court records and improving public confidence in the justice system.
He commended the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Elvis Anegu Ngene, for his vision, as well as the National Judicial Council and its JITPO-COM, led by the Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kasim Zannah, OFR, for their leadership in the reform.
Odoh also commended Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for his commitment to judicial reform, noting that the digital transformation would improve the efficiency of the Ministry of Justice, which he described as the state’s busiest litigant.
He said e-Filing would further strengthen the criminal justice system by improving coordination among prosecutors, the police, correctional services and other security agencies.
The commissioner urged judges, lawyers, registry officials and law enforcement agencies to embrace the platform, stressing that technology alone could not deliver justice without the commitment of the people operating the system.
He called on branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in the state to promote peer training and early adoption of the digital platform, while urging registry staff to ensure a smooth transition for litigants and legal practitioners.
Odoh, however, acknowledged that the implementation could face challenges, including poor internet connectivity, power supply fluctuations and limited digital literacy, but said the state would address the challenges through training, help desks, practice directions and continuous improvement.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Justice would train all State Counsel across its departments and make electronic filing the default procedure in its litigation workflow.
The commissioner added that the ministry would maintain collaboration with the Judiciary and the Bar to provide technical support and sensitisation on the new system.
He said the transition marked a new chapter in the administration of justice in Ebonyi State, expressing hope that citizens, particularly those in remote communities, would ultimately benefit from faster and more accessible justice.
“Today, we move justice from the physical courthouse to the secure click of a button,” Odoh said.