The National Judicial Institute has tasked judicial officers in the country to be mindful of the vulnerabilities faced by women, children and marginalised communities in the adjudication of justice in the digital era.
The Institute’s administrator, Justice Abdullahi, said this in Uyo during the workshop on digital rights held in Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State on Monday with the theme “Upholding Justice in the Digital Age: Strengthening Judicial Capacity on Digital Rights and Cyber Governance”‘
The workshop is organised by Paradigm Initiative, a non-governmental organization committed to digital advocacy in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission and the National Judicial Institute with the support of the Netherlands Embassy in Nigeria.
It aims to strengthen the capacities of judges and judicial officers with knowledge, skills and tools to handle digital rights cases effectivity while also upholding human rights within the Nigerian context.
Abdullahi said the judicial ecosystem is undergoing transformation emphasising that the development is a call on judges and judicial officers to reflect on how they can deliver justice in a manner that remains true to constitutional principles while also being responsive to the realities of an increasingly digital society.
According to him, the rapid evolution of digital technologies has introduced a new layer of complexity – one that invariably demands an informed, agile, and forward-looking Judiciary.
“Today, digital platforms have become central to communication, commerce, governance, and personal expression. But alongside their promise, we are confronted with new and pressing risks posed by online harassment, digital surveillance, misinformation, internet shutdowns, cyberbullying, identity theft, and massive data breaches to mention a few.
