Five years ago, the Borno State Judicial Council embarked on the reformation of the state judicial system at the instance of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP).
Then, the Chairman, publicity and complaints committee of the project in Borno State, Justice A.Y. Sanya, in conjunction with Criminal Justice and Administration on Strengthening Judicial Integrity and Capacity, said that the reformation was aimed at ensuring transparency and speedy dispensation of justice.
The reforms aimed at achieving speedy trials, particularly to the cases of persons remanded in custody and decongest the correctional centres.
However, when Covid-19 pandemic struck, Justice Kashim Zannah, Chief Judge of Borno State immediately announced and directed online court sittings (OCS) which was to enable courts continue with pending criminal trials despite the lockdown and suspension of court sittings occasioned.
He explained that these Practice Directions shall apply to pending criminal trials with respect to all sittings of court, particularly those not requiring the taking of oral evidence.
“The powers vested in me by sections 6 (6) and 274 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and section 68 of the High Court Law (Cap. 63) Laws of Borno State of Nigeria 1994, and all other laws and powers enabling me in that regard,” he said.
He opined that the decision was taken to enable courts “Conclude all those trials that can proceed remotely so as to further decongest the correctional centres and reduce traffic to and from the centres of persons standing trial before the courts.
“It aimed to leverage technology in enabling speedy criminal trials and in the process acquiring the skill and confidence to expand the scope of applicable technology and the cases and stages for application.”
He continued, “Upon the application of the accused person, who, while the lockdown and prohibition of interaction with persons awaiting trial by the Correctional Service subsists, waives his right to be present at the trial; At the courts’ discretion, when the accused person may join and be present online at his trial from the Correctional Centre or any appropriate physical location.”
Recently, Governor Babagana Zulum pledged to undertake a sweeping review of the state’s legal framework, aimed to align existing laws with contemporary realities and bolster their effectiveness in deterring crime.
The promise during the launch of a new Digital Case Management System at the Borno State Ministry of Justice, signaled a significant push for legal reform before the end of Zulum’s tenure.
The governor specifically highlighted the need to revise the penal code, arguing that current punishments fail to provide adequate deterrence for offenders.
“Most of the provisions of the laws, especially the penal code laws, need to be reviewed. At present, the punishment in the provisions of the law cannot provide the needed deterrence for defaulters. And that is what my administration will look into so that before the expiration of my tenure, insha Allah, we shall have laws that are in tandem with current realities,” Zulum said.
The event, held at the Musa Usman Secretariat, also showcased the Ministry of Justice’s new logo, core values, mission statement, and an e-library — all part of a broader digital transformation initiative. Governor Zulum affirmed his administration’s full support for this modernization drive, emphasizing that the new Digital Case Management System is expected to enhance efficiency, reduce delays, and elevate the standard of legal practice across the state.
He also reiterated a commitment to improving staff welfare, training, and career development for state counsels, specifically offering support for lawyers pursuing further education. “I am happy to see many female lawyers,” he noted. “I want to assure you that any person who wants to further his education, I am willing to do that.”
The governor lauded the State Chief Judge, Justice Kashim Zannah, for his pioneering efforts in introducing a digital case management system to the state judiciary five years ago, making Borno the first in Nigeria to adopt such an innovation.
He also commended the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Hauwa Abubakar, for her leadership and reformative initiatives within the ministry.
Justice Zannah, in turn, praised Governor Zulum’s transformative governance, advocating for the digitization of state laws to improve public accessibility.
“In my career, I have never seen a government meticulously promulgating laws to see that every agency of government is governed by a law,” Zannah remarked. “Almost every month, laws signed by His Excellency come to me, and the best way to make them accessible is to digitize them.”
Barr. Hauwa Abubakar described the day’s event as a “significant milestone” in institutional reforms, reinforcing the ministry’s dedication to efficient, people-centered justice. “The unveiling of our new identity is not merely a symbolic gesture; it embodies our renewed focus, clarity of purpose, and unwavering dedication to public service,” she said. “It signifies a ministry that is evolving to meet the challenges of modern governance while remaining steadfast in its commitment to justice, fairness, and integrity.”
The governor’s pledge to overhaul Borno’s legal framework signals a proactive approach to addressing crime and modernizing the state’s justice system, aiming for more effective deterrence and a more accessible legal landscape for its citizens.
Speaking on the development, Zanna Hamza, Esq., chairman, NBA Maiduguri Branch said in the absence of rule of law, the society suffers injustice commended the justice sector reform in the state as a right pegs in the right holes.
Zanna explained that the judiciary online court proceedings have reduce unnecessary expenses for both lawyers and their clients especially those who didn’t domicile in the state.
“But I must commend the efforts of Attorney General of the state for digitalisation of the sector. Now, the judiciary is automated and ministry of justice is automated. So, this laudable initiative has changed the sector, everything is done online and within 48 hours Chief Justice would assign the case to the court. This is commendable and it will fast track the justice.
“Our courts are overwhelmed by the numbers of cases and it is not fault of judges but it is procedural lapses. Thankfully, with coming of technology cases has been fast tracking, like now the Borno State high courts is the first to initiate e-filling of cases in Nigeria which started since 2020 during Covid-19. Now, we have online sitting and we upload our cases online, no manual filing.
Zanna attributed the inadequate of manpower and logistics especially the investigators and lawyers handling the cases as some of the challenges, describing same as greatly worrisome. He urged the Nigeria Police Force to recruit more and train personnel to man the investigation department.
He queries, “Go to the Ministry of Justice how many lawyers do we have? In fact, many of the lawyers have retired between last year and early this year. We don’t have enough manpower in the Ministry of Justice. I think there is urgent need for the of justice to recruit more lawyers especially across the 27 council areas.”
Zanna urged the state government to prioritise the welfare and provide logistics to Khadis of Sharia courts and judges of Magistrate courts to enable effectiveness and efficiency that would tackle issues of corruption among the judiciary workers.
