Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Tsoho, on Monday, formally launched an electronic filing (e-filing) system at the Lagos Division, marking a significant step toward digitising Nigeria’s judicial process.
Speaking at the event, Justice Tsoho declared an end to the long-standing reliance on paper-based filing, describing the new system as a transformative shift rather than a mere technological upgrade.
“For too long, the corridors of the court have been weighed down by mountains of paper files and outdated manual processes. Today, we declare that era over,” he said.
He emphasised that the adoption of e-filing aligns with the directive of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who has consistently maintained that technology integration in the judiciary is no longer optional but essential.
According to Tsoho, the new system is designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability in court processes.
He noted that it would eliminate common issues such as missing files, delays in processing, and opportunities for manipulation.
“With this platform, filing can now be done remotely from anywhere with internet access.
“The registry is no longer restricted by time, and case files can reach judges within seconds instead of days,” he added.
The Chief Judge further explained that the e-filing system would create a secure digital footprint for all filings, prevent backdating of documents, and ensure that all payments are processed through electronic gateways for transparency and accountability.
He urged legal practitioners to adopt digital signatures, electronic seals, and the e-affidavit platform to ensure seamless system usage, while also encouraging law firms to integrate ICT personnel into their operations.
Justice Tsoho also called on judges to familiarise themselves with the system and delegate administrative tasks to court registrars to improve efficiency.
In his keynote address, the Chief Judge of Borno State and Chairman of the Judicial Information Technology Policy Committee of the National Judicial Council, Justice Kashim Zannah, described the digitisation of court processes as a necessity for modern justice delivery.
He noted that the e-filing system is powered by the Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS), which provides a unified digital infrastructure for filing, managing, and tracking cases across courts.
Zannah stressed that maintaining control of the system within the judiciary is critical to preserving judicial independence and public trust.
“Ownership of this infrastructure by the courts ensures integrity and prevents undue interference from external entities,” he said.
He revealed that several states, including Borno, Bayelsa, and Delta, have already implemented the system, while others, such as Niger and Taraba, recently joined, with more states expected to follow.
Highlighting the resilience of the system, Zannah recounted how courts in Borno State continued operations during a devastating flood incident because all case files were securely stored in the cloud.
“Even when courtrooms were inaccessible, legal processes continued seamlessly from remote locations,” he said.
