By Ekemini James
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has highlighted the advantages of the e-governance approach, emphasizing that the strategic digitalization of the nation’s judicial system is essential for the efficient and speedy dispensation of justice.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day top Management Retreat of the Federal Ministry of Justice taking place at Four-Point by Sheraton Hotels in Ikot Ekpene, Governor Eno said the strategy will replace delays, inefficiencies, and archaic practices with a system that is timely and transparent.
To him, digital tools, streamlined processes, and modern governance are not optional but essential to restoring public confidence and ensuring fair adjudication. He reminded the audience that Justice delayed is justice denied, and in today’s digital age, there can be no excuse for delay.
The gathering was more than a retreat. It became a master class where a Governor blended the languages of technology, governance, and humanity into a compelling call for reform.
Speaking on the theme “Embracing Innovation for Justice Excellence”, Governor Eno drew a sharp contrast between the lumbering system of old, dominated by paper files and clogged dockets, and the nimble possibilities of digital transformation.
He envisioned a judiciary where e-filing and virtual hearings are the norm, where case management is streamlined, and where artificial intelligence and blockchain technology safeguard records in a secure and transparent manner.
Such measures, he argued, would quicken trials, decongest prisons, and deepen public confidence in the justice system.
The Governor’s appeal was drawn from experience. Already in the State, e-governance is not a projection but a practice. With the establishment of the Ministry of Science and Digital Economy, governance has been simplified, waste curtailed, and transparency also deepened.
Now, procurement processes, entrepreneurship support, and even civil service recruitment are now processed through digital portals, ensuring fairness and accountability.
In the justice sector, the State Ministry of Justice, working with the digital economy ministry, is building bespoke solutions for civil and criminal case management.
The Governor, a practical host, extended the discussion beyond policy. He invited his guests to witness transformation in its physical form at the ARISE Resort. Once a gully erosion site that threatened lives, now stands as a serene leisure destination.
For the Governor, it was a metaphor: what seems broken can be rebuilt, and what appears stagnant can be renewed.
Already, the Governor has been committed to strengthening the judicial system. When he swore in six new High Court Judges, expanding the capacity of the State’s judiciary to deliver justice more swiftly. He vowed that Akwa Ibom would remain uncomfortable for criminals and their enablers, stressing that the rule of law must always prevail so that citizens can pursue their businesses in peace.
Earlier at the event, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Hon. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, applauded the Governor as a leader of exceptional foresight. Also, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, noted that the retreat was designed to align Nigeria’s justice system with the global wave of digital transformation.
Governor Umo Eno’s words at the event is a fitting way to end this piece.
“The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain technology where cases are stored in an orderly and easily accessible manner, will certainly lead to speedy trials of suspects awaiting trial. This will also help to decongest prisons – which has been a major contentious issue.”
“Excellent and timely dispensation of justice cannot be achieved by sticking to old methods
“In Akwa Ibom State, we have fully embraced e-governance by first establishing a stand-alone Ministry of Science and Digital Economy. Today, the processes of governance are highly simplified, efficient, and wastage is cut off drastically.”
“2026 budget proposal will contain provisions for high-tech forensic laboratories. We are currently reviewing a proposal for establishment of the Office of the Public Defender that will allow indigent and vulnerable members of the public to have access to justice in civil or criminal cases at no cost.”
