The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has called on all departments within the Federal Ministry of Justice to fully embrace digital transformation in line with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25), the National Policy on Justice, and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at a top management retreat in Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, themed “Positioning for Digital Transformation”, Fagbemi emphasized that the justice system must modernize to meet rising public expectations and tackle the sector’s persistent inefficiencies.
“The criminal justice system faces serious issues like slow trials, overcrowded correctional facilities, and poor access to justice. These can only be solved with technology-driven solutions,” he said.
Fagbemi stressed that technology is essential for ensuring faster and more efficient justice delivery and urged the ministry to move beyond outdated, manual processes.
“The challenges of today demand that justice never sleeps. We must adopt innovative strategies to keep the wheels of justice turning,” he added.
He instructed all units and directorates to align their goals with national digital policies and shift from mere compliance to proactive leadership, characterized by digital tools, agile governance, and data-driven decision-making.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, who declared the retreat open, commended the federal government’s reforms and noted that Akwa Ibom has already integrated e-governance into its operations.
“We’ve established a Ministry of Science and Digital Economy and are working on a digital system to manage both civil and criminal cases efficiently,” the governor said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, said the retreat was organized to strengthen institutional capacity in areas such as electronic content management, digital case management, and artificial intelligence integration in legal workflows.
