Nigerian Judge, Lawyers Take Centre Stage at IBA Copenhagen

Nigeria’s presence at the International Bar Association Annual Conference 2026 in Copenhagen has moved beyond ceremonial participation, with Nigerian jurists and lawyers featuring prominently in several of today’s substantive sessions.

The conference, which runs from 4 to 9 October 2026, is today focusing on some of the most pressing questions confronting the profession globally: artificial intelligence in courtrooms, regulation of lawyers, financial-crime compliance, law-firm competitiveness and diversity across jurisdictions.

Among the Nigerian participants is Hon. Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, who is speaking on the session titled “Using artificial intelligence in the courtroom.”

The session examines whether judges should use AI, how courts should respond to AI-generated false authorities, and what ethical limits should govern the use of generative technology by judges and advocates.

Also participating today is Modupeola Olusoga of Streamsowers & Köhn, who is speaking at a session focused on how small and medium-sized firms can future-proof themselves as artificial intelligence changes legal-service delivery.

That discussion is particularly relevant to Nigerian firms because smaller practices face the same technology pressures as global firms, but often with fewer resources to invest in software, cyber-security and process automation.

Nigeria is also represented by Felix Obiamalu of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, who is participating in an IBA session on the growing role of general financial regulators and supranational agencies in policing professional-services firms, including law firms.

The session examines the expanding compliance obligations facing lawyers in relation to anti-money laundering, sanctions and financial intelligence.

Other Nigerian participants appearing across today’s programme include Professor Jane Ezirigwe and Adeniji Oni, who are contributing to a discussion on trade restrictions and global food security, and Oseinoma Okpeku of The Law Crest LLP, who is part of a global panel on navigating conflicting diversity and inclusion rules across jurisdictions.

The prominence of Nigerian participants at Copenhagen reflects a wider shift in the profession: Nigerian lawyers are increasingly contributing to global conversations on regulation, technology and international legal practice rather than attending solely as delegates.

For the domestic Bar, those conversations have direct relevance. Courts in Nigeria are already confronting questions around AI-generated citations, digital filing and courtroom technology, while law firms face growing regulatory obligations around money laundering, data protection and professional ethics.