The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akure Branch, has expressed concern over the handling of remand proceedings and persistent challenges affecting the electronic filing system in Ondo State.
The concerns were contained in a communiqué issued after the branch’s monthly general meeting and signed by its Chairman, Oju Kekemeke, and Secretary, Oluwanike Omotayo.
According to a report by The Guardian on Wednesday, November 4, the branch alleged that applications for remand are not always subjected to adequate judicial scrutiny, raising concerns about the protection of personal liberty.
The association warned that judicial decisions affecting the liberty of individuals must be guided strictly by the applicable law and the evidence and materials presented before the court, rather than concerns about possible administrative displeasure or reprisal.
It specifically drew attention to the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ondo State, 2015, which provides safeguards governing criminal proceedings and remand applications.
The branch resolved to engage the leadership of the state judiciary over the concerns and called for strict compliance with statutory requirements in the handling of remand applications.
The NBA’s position places renewed attention on the importance of judicial independence and the responsibility of courts to scrutinise applications that could result in the continued detention of individuals before trial.
The branch also raised concerns about the state’s electronic filing system, saying that the current arrangement operates more like an electronic payment platform than a fully integrated digital court filing process.
Although lawyers can make payments online and upload court processes, they are reportedly still required to submit physical copies at court registries for assessment and stamping.
The association identified recurring network failures, system downtime and shortages of essential registry materials as some of the problems slowing down the filing process.
It argued that these difficulties undermine the purpose of introducing electronic filing, which should ordinarily reduce administrative bottlenecks, improve efficiency and make court processes more accessible.
The branch consequently called for a comprehensive review of the system to establish an end-to-end electronic filing process. It also recommended that lawyers should no longer be required to submit hard copies of documents that have already been uploaded electronically.
To document the challenges, the NBA Akure Branch constituted a three-member committee to collate specific instances of system failures and report its findings.
PPDC warns against AI-driven judicial decisions
At the same time, the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) cautioned against allowing artificial intelligence to determine decisions affecting the freedom of individuals.
The organisation made its position known at the third Access to Justice Parley and Law for Humanity Summit 2026 in Abuja, which examined the implications of growing reliance on data and artificial intelligence in justice delivery.
The summit was held under the theme, “Justice in the Age of Data and AI.”
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muyiwa Tola Atoyebi, said technology could support judicial decision-making but should never replace human responsibility.
He called for human review, transparency and effective oversight in the deployment of AI systems, particularly where decisions could affect fundamental rights and personal liberty.
Atoyebi also called for transparency in the procurement and deployment of artificial intelligence tools across courts and other justice institutions.
PPDC Chief Executive Officer Lucy James Abagi called for stronger collaboration among institutions within the justice sector to improve access to justice.
The developments raise important questions about the relationship between judicial independence, technological innovation and the protection of constitutional rights.
As courts increasingly adopt digital systems and artificial intelligence, the legal profession and justice institutions must ensure that technology improves access to justice without weakening due process, accountability or the right to personal liberty.
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