By our Reporter
Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu,Chief Judge of Ogun State, has said that e-justice has the potential to foster development of judicial system, while it also brings rule of law to the forefront, making it people-centred.
Justice Dipeolu made this remarks at the Judiciary Complex, Abeokuta, during the opening of a two-day conference of the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Branch, with the theme: The 21st Century Magistrate: Challenges, Prospect and Future Trajectory”.
Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje who represented the CJ noted that magistrates play vital role in the judiciary and were central to the justice system, saying they should take up the challenge associated with global change and stay with relevant standards.
She stated that, “it is essential to promote e-justice with a deliberate strategy that will respond to the justice emergency and should not be treated solely as an infrastructure update, rather, as a tool for system transformation”.
The Chief Judge advised Magistrates to understand digitisation, identify essential components of human and electronic judicial interaction within the system and ensure that values derived were not in rigid adherence to tradition, saying, the values should be towards the articulation and careful stewardship of the purpose of justice.
"As a magistrate willing to be relevant in the 21st century, you must think critically, have an effective communication skill, a sense of self-direction and development, digital literacy, as well as technical skills", she said.
In her lecture, a High Court Judge, Justice Eniola Fabanwo said part of the guidelines of virtual proceedings in courts was to seek the consent of both parties and ensure the availability of all devices, especially the internet facilities, while recording should be disallowed by participants to avoid contempt of court.
In her opening remarks, Chairman of the Association, Mrs. Moriyike Osinbajo said Magistrates must be up to date with the latest development, in order to make informed decisions in criminal and civil cases.
Osinbajo added that the ability of Magistrates to develop themselves in a globalised society requires training and commitment to keeping abreast of legal development, so as to remain relevant in the administration of justice.