Fernandez Marcus-Obiene is the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Justice Sector Reform and ICT/Digital and Innovative Technology. His office recently organised a hackathon pitch to improve Nigeria’s legal system. In this interview, he explains more on the initiative. Daniel Obi brings the excerpts.
Recently, you organised a hackathon pitch to improve Nigeria’s legal system. What inspired your office to venture into legal system reforms or legal tech innovation?
My work has exposed me to the many gaps that slow justice delivery. I have also seen how much young people want to solve problems in the justice sector. Many of them have ideas. Many of them build tools. But the tools do not always match the real needs of the sector. This is often due to limited access to information about the justice system. I felt that we needed a space where innovators and justice actors could meet early, share ideas, and shape solutions together.
The Hackathon fitted into the broader reform work of the President and aligned with the justice sector priorities of the Ministry of Justice. We wanted an initiative that would support policy reforms, strengthen institutions, and also promote innovation. The goal was to use talent and technology to solve real problems while building confidence among judges, lawyers, police officers, correctional officers, and others who work daily in the system.
I have also seen that technology is already helping other sectors grow and create jobs. While I cannot say the justice sector has been left behind, there is still a significant gap in its growth. The hackathon allowed us to start building a pipeline of justice-focused startups that may scale across Africa and even globally. And who knows, some may become unicorns in the future.
Why do you want to reform the legal system through technology innovations and not through administrative processes?
Administrative reforms are important, and we continue to do them. But many of the problems in the justice system are structural and persistent. Manual processes slow things down. Paper files get missing. Tracking becomes difficult. Data is weak. Technology provides tools that make administration stronger. It allows transparency. It allows speed. It reduces errors. It helps citizens access justice with fewer barriers.
Both approaches work together. Policy gives direction. Administration provides order. Technology improves capacity. If we rely on only one side, the change will be slow and the impact will be limited. The future of justice reform must integrate all three.
How many firms participated in the pitch, and how did you select the participants?
We received 82 applications from across Nigeria. They were not just firms per se; they included unregistered partnerships and individuals. The teams were drawn from different sectors, including law, engineering, civic tech, and business. To ensure fairness, each application was reviewed anonymously by at least two independent evaluators using a standard scoring system. We looked at understanding of the problem, innovation, technical skills, teamwork, impact focus, and scalability. The top 20 teams were selected based on their average scores and then invited to participate in the Hackathon.
How would the outcomes of the pitch be implemented for the expected impact?
The Hackathon was only the first phase. Although we initially wanted the top 10 teams to enter the next phase, we invited all 20 teams to enter the JusticeTechNG Accelerator, where they are receiving mentorship, business development support, and institutional exposure. We are working with partners like Arravo and Africa Fintech Foundry to refine their products, test them with real users, and prepare them for investment. Following the accelerator, the top 10 teams from the hackathon will participate in a demo day before justice sector actors and inventors have the chance to win up to N22,000,000 in prizes.
During and following the demo day, we will introduce all participants to government agencies, private investors, and global partners who can help integrate these solutions into the justice system. We intend to maintain an ongoing relationship with these firms to assist their success.
Presently, what is the level of involvement of technology in the administration of justice, and where are you aiming to be with the Hackathon initiative?
Technology use in the justice sector is increasing but remains uneven. In courts, for example, some have made significant progress, especially with e-filing and digital case management, but the system as a whole still has a long way to go. The police have begun adopting digital investigation tools in certain units, yet record‑keeping and evidence management remain largely manual. Correctional services, despite a significant improvement in technology adoption, also face challenges with biometric systems, inmate tracking, and digital documentation in some locations. Some ministries of justice and other agencies have attempted to use various tools for drafting, monitoring, and inter-agency communication, but integration across institutions is still limited.
“Technology provides tools that make administration stronger. It allows transparency. It allows speed. It reduces errors. It helps citizens access justice with fewer barriers.”
The justice sector includes courts, the police, correctional services, legal aid, the Ministry of Justice, regulatory agencies, and several oversight bodies. Each of these has different levels of digital maturity. The Hackathon aimed to support innovations that touch all these areas.
Are you collaborating with any other government agencies, law firms, or civil society organisations to scale the impact?
Yes. Collaboration sits at the centre of JusticeTechNG. We built the programme around strong institutional partnerships because justice delivery involves many actors.
The Judiciary has been a key partner. The Judiciary Information Technology Committee (JITCOM) of the National Judicial Council, led by Justice Kashim Zannah, guides what will work within real court environments. Justice Zannah serves on our Advisory Board. The Federal High Court has also been deeply involved, with Justice Olayinka Faji, the Administrative Judge of the Lagos Division, supporting the teams and the programme. Although represented at the opening ceremony, he was physically present on Pitch Day and served as the lead judge for the evaluation of the pitches and has remained involved since then. We also had a representative from the Supreme Court of Nigeria who observed sessions and provided insights.
The Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee, headed by Executive Secretary Evbu Igbinedion, has provided significant support. The Federal and Lagos State Ministries of Justice and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development remain important partners in the broader justice reform agenda.
In the private sector, Africa Fintech Foundry has been a strong technical and business development partner, helping us shape the accelerator and refine the solutions. Arravo has provided ongoing technical guidance and support; indeed, they are now co-owners of the project. We maintain active engagement with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and have been in contact with NITDA to help align innovation with regulatory expectations.
LawPavilion, Banwo & Ighodalo, Enovate Lab, the Public and Private Development Centre, the Nigerian Bar Association, and several civil society organisations also play active roles. We have had individuals like Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN (SPA Ajibade & Co.), Tunde Fagbohunlu, SAN (Aluko & Oyebode), Michael Numa, SAN (M.J. Numa & Partners), Adeola Olumeyan (Junior Achievement Africa), Simon Melchior (Axendit), Samuel Orji (KrediBank), and Chika Nwosu (Palmpay), among others.
These collaborations ensure that the ideas developed in the hackathon have the technical foundations, policy support, and institutional access needed to scale beyond prototypes.
What policy changes or regulatory support do you believe are also crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s legal framework?
We need clear digital standards in the justice sector. We need rules that support electronic evidence (including standards and procedures for bringing it to court). The latest iteration of the Evidence Act supports electronic evidence, but there is still a long way to go in terms of implementation and general guidance. The rules must also support comprehensive digital case files and, very significantly, secure data sharing. We also need sector-wide digital policies that consider privacy, cybersecurity, and cross-agency cooperation. Many of these discussions are ongoing in government. Strong policies will allow courts and agencies to adopt innovation with confidence.
The Federal Ministry of Justice is already working on several of these fronts, and collaborations with the judiciary and other agencies continue to be important. In your view, what are the biggest obstacles to justice delivery in Nigeria, and how can private sector initiatives help overcome them?
The biggest obstacles remain delay, limited access, infrastructure deficit, and the slow adoption of modern tools. Many citizens cannot navigate the system without help. Many justice institutions are overstretched. Private sector initiatives can help by building tools that improve speed, connect people to legal support, improve documentation, and help institutions manage cases better. When innovators understand the real needs of the system, they can build products that reduce the burden on agencies and make justice more efficient.
What legacy do you hope your initiative will leave in Nigeria’s justice and legal reform landscape?
This work is really an offshoot of the president’s declared priorities. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda envisions a justice system that truly works for all Nigerians. One that is accessible, efficient, and responsive to people’s needs. His priority areas for national development provide a clear roadmap for achieving this transformation.
The administration’s focus on the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption requires institutions that can adopt digital tools to simplify their work. The commitment to economic growth and job creation calls for innovators to build solutions in the justice sector through technology and entrepreneurship. The drive for institutional reforms demands that our justice institutions become fit for purpose.
I am privileged to, with the support of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, contribute to this national effort. If, in a few years, Nigeria can point to homegrown justice technologies that have improved access for millions of citizens, then we will have advanced the Renewed Hope mandate. Every Nigerian deserves access to justice, and the President’s vision ensures our institutions can deliver in the 21st century.
