Rivers State Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Adanma Iyayi-Lamikanra, has disclosed that the adoption of electronic filing of court processes has practically eliminated quackery and improved the state’s judicial system.
She stated that the new method would make more remarkable impact if fully embraced across the country.
Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra said some of the landmark achievements in the last one year, after adopting the Rivers State Court Management System (RIVCOMIS), include e-filing of cases, online payments, as well as virtual and remote court hearings.
Others, according to her, are e-affidavits, capacity development for effective, efficient and sustainable implementation of the RivCOMiS platform and migration of old cases.
She stated this yesterday in Port Harcourt, while commemorating the one year anniversary of RIVCOMIS, stressing that e- filing process in courts would encourage more credence and transparency in the judiciary.
The CJ, who was represented by the Chief Registrar, Rivers State (High Court), Judiciary, Vivienne Kobani-Buzugbe, noted that the e-filing process was introduced to achieve the desired intention towards quality justice administration.
“The last 365 days in the Rivers State Judiciary has been a journey of constant reinvention through automating processes and activities directed towards improved justice delivery.
“One common feature of the justice administration globally is delay in justice delivery. The consequences are far-reaching, as people have often resorted to self-help and jungle justice and Nigeria’s justice administration is no exception.
“Most of the laws and rules that govern the processes used in our courts today date back to the pre-independence era. They are analogue and require human intrusion to achieve the desired intention towards quality justice administration,” she added.
She explained that more than ever before, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed most of the inadequacies of manual system and informed how the use of technology could greatly improve access to and delivery of justice.
She noted that Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration had been committed to funding projects in the judicial sector with a view to easing its activities.
Also, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Wike on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Asawo Ibufuro, and representatives of the Nigeria Bar Association NBA, Callistus Urine said, e-filing processes had reduced quackery in the judicial system in the last one year.
They, however, pointed out that inability of some lawyers to adapt to the system remained a challenge, assuring of government’s readiness to organise another training for lawyers and stakeholders soon.
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