Guest Lecturer at the 16th annual National Association of judiciary correspondents, NAJUC Lecture, honorable Justice Folashade Bankole-Oki (rtd), has commended the Lagos State Judiciary for pioneering digital hearings and court processes.

Justice Bankole Oki addressed critical reforms for Nigeria’s judiciary and emphasized the timely nature of the lecture’s theme on “strengthening justice through technology, media, and public feedback.”

Justice Oki praised the media’s power to inform and reform, while cautioning against its potential to mislead. she also recommended full digitization of court records, online dispute resolution, and virtual mediation.

The Judge urged the adoption of international best practices, including paperless trials and real-time case tracking, including Artificial Intelligence.

According to Justice Oki, ” AI is rapidly becoming a transformative tool in the legal sector. from research and document analysis, to prediction model and case law referencing. AI holds promise, but also poses risks”.

At the same event, Chairman of the NAJUC Lecture, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo, advocated for the establishment of media department at the various courts.

Justice Taiwo frowned at misrepresentation of court proceedings by various sections of the media stressing that only a media department with trained judiciary correspondents can set the record straight and supply the right information to the media and the publics.

He presented a different view about the sale of over 700 houses forfeited by the former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele. Taiwo suggested that the houses should have been turned into housing for the underprivileged and poor.

The event climaxed with the presentation of award of excellence to the EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede in recognition of his commitment to the anti-coruption campaign.