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OUR WORK
Areas of focus
Public Law Tech Policy
In an age in which countries are being gripped by conversations on Artificial Intelligence, it is easy to ignore the fact that most courts in Nigeria still struggle with deploying basic technologies - computers, internet connectivity and up-to-date websites.
We believe that technology can help the scaling of access to justice in the Global South. We need advanced technologies, but we also need basic technologies for case filing, case management, data collection etc.
That is why we developed the Public Law Technology Adoption Index, which seeks to capture the state of adoption of public law technologies by every state in Nigeria, the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Judicial system.
We think it is important that we measure to what extent the courts, prisons, police, Ministries of Justice and legal aid insititutions, utilize technology to make justice accessible for all.
Add to this the critical role of research. Billions of Naira have been deployed to build public law technologies, many of which have failed. This does not excite any technocrat looking to build something new. But the issues are not insurmountable. With proper research and studies, public lw bodies can sustainably deploy technologies for the long term.
The 'Index' solution
Nigeria has made strides in financial inclusion because there have been clear policies set in place and parameters that we are trying to reach. We have been able to categorize Nigerians into banked, unbanked and underbanked and this has influenced the policies that we have put in place, and how the CBN has regulated the space. We are seeking to introduce the same approach applied towards financial inclusion, towards improving the adoption of technology by public law institutions.
The Public Law Technology Adoption Index will help give public law institutions an idea of where they stand in terms of the adoption of technologies, relative to other states. That way, they can track their progress and see what areas they are weak and need to improve on. The PULTAI: A Catalyst for Change The PULTAI envisions an online platform that rates each Nigerian state and the federal courts based on their use of technology in public law processes. We'll be grading states and courts according to: 1. The use of electronic filing of cases 2. Virtual court infrasturture 3. Criminal digital case management systems 4. 24/7 toll police toll free line 5. State Law repository 6. Case management system by the High Court 7. Case management system by the magistrate court 8. Transcription services in the High Court 9. Digital Inmate database 10. Interconnectedness across systems
Public Law Technology Development
We are open to working with any legal authority that needs guidance with the development or adoption of technology to meet justice needs.
In partnership with Oaks Intelligence Ltd, we are also developing Nigeria Law Switch (NILAS).
HOW CAN NILAS HELP WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACJA?
NILAS would help that ensure the full implementation of the ACJA and ACJL in various states. It would ensure that the progressive provisions in those laws are achieved by making the justice system more efficient, transparent, and collaborative.
Below, we identify some critical ways in which NILAS can drive the implementation of the ACJA:
1. Streamlined Case Processing:
With NILAS, police, courts, legal aid, and correctional facilities would be able to share data seamlessly and immediately. NILAS would cut down the delays we often see in the Nigerian criminal justice system, with the transfer of physical files and endless data entry. This would result in faster case processing, which is one of the major aims of the ACJA.
2. Enhanced Transparency and Accountability
Due to the centralization occasioned by NILAS, every single action taken on a case would be recorded and easy to track. This kind of transparency not only helps in keeping every actor honest but could also reduce the risks of corruption and errors. It’s a solid step toward the ACJA’s goal of making actors in the criminal justice system more accountable.
3. Improved Coordination Among Justice Entities
NILAS would enable better teamwork among the police, public and private lawyers, courts, and correctional services. Quick access to data means that parties can get timely information from each other, and stakeholders can be better prepared for their roles, before they are called upon, because they would be in the loop of activities. This kind of coordination is crucial for improving justice delivery.
4. Access to Justice
The use of APIs to link different parts of the legal system would open up access to legal resources, especially for parties who are often left out. This aligns perfectly with the ACJA’s commitment to ensuring every defendant gets a fair trial in court.
5. Efficiency through Standardization of Procedures
A lot of processes in our criminal justice system are routine. However, because we still depend on paper-based systems in our justice system, it is hard to save time and cut on repeated tasks. The police, court officials and lawyers will benefit greatly from standardization.
A unified system across various regions means the same procedures would apply everywhere, which helps in ensuring standards. This way, we can do away with unnecessary inconsistencies in how justice is served across different courts, in different states.
6. Data-Driven Decision Making
With all the data collected and analyzed in one place, NILAS would offer insights into trends and patterns in the justice system. This kind of information could help inform policy updates, resource distribution, and other strategic decisions, paving the way for the systemic improvements envisioned by the ACJA.
7. Continuity and Resilience in Justice Delivery
The digital and centralized nature of the switch means that the justice system could keep running smoothly under almost any circumstances, including emergencies like pandemics.
The 2020 pandemic and the EndSARS protests that ended with the burning of courts and justice facilities led to a major breakdown in judicial activities especially in Lagos State.
NILAS, being web-based, will prevent that from happening.
Open Law Advocacy
We believe strongly that the future of public law technology in Nigeria lies not only in the adoption of technology by public law bodies but in the adoption of technologies that are open (interoperable).
What is interoperability?
Interoperability refers to the ability of different justice system components—such as police, courts, and correctional facilities—to exchange information seamlessly and function cohesively to achieve common goals. The importance of interoperability in justice technologies cannot be overemphasized. Interoperability is focused on the development of integrated systems that will help streamline processes across the justice sector. The repetitive nature of data entry in traditional paper-based systems often leads to inefficiencies and data inaccuracies. To address these issues, it is paramount to have ICT-based systems that promote interoperability between justice agencies’ systems and databases. This will enhance coordination and efficiency. Technical, Legal, and Institutional Conditions: Effective interoperability relies on
compatible technical infrastructures, such as shared standards and protocols, coherent data sets, and robust communication systems. Additionally, a supportive legal framework is crucial to ensure that data exchanges comply with legal standards and protect privacy. A successful example of interoperability – the CAC-FIRS connection Imagine that while trying to register a company with the CAC, after filing with the CAC, you had to download the documents, go to an FIRS office; make payment; have it stamped and then scan and re-upload the documents.
. All that is avoided because the CAC company registration portal is interoperable with the FIRS stamp duty platform. In advanced jurisdictions, interoperability is standard in the development of public law technologies. What can interoperability help us achieve in our legal system? We can connect magistrate courts and High Courts in a state, to enable instant information sharing. We can connect the Ministries of Justice to the courts, to allow for instant sharing of information. We can connect lawyers and multiple courts at a single point to enable filings and information sharing. We can enable instant access to court files, to enable quicker appeals and to enable execution of court orders/judgements. We can reduce crime, especially crimes that are carried out by repeat offenders. We can connect police stations (and real time arrest activities) to legal aid organizations. We can connect court systems to prison databases, to track awaiting trial timeline, in real time. We can connect high courts across multiple states to aid case transfers and address abuse of court processes. We can connect high courts and federal high courts as well, to aid case transfers and address abuse of court processes.