The Federal High Court in Lagos is set to fully implement its electronic filing (e-filing) system by June 23, 2025, ending manual filing of new cases by June 20. However, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has urged the court to delay or suspend the rollout, citing critical concerns about privacy, infrastructure, and equitable access.
The Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Sulaiman Amida Hassan, announced that from June 23, all new cases in Lagos would be filed electronically, with existing cases continuing manually until resolved. Legal practitioners were advised to comply strictly with the directive.
Adegboruwa emphasized that while digitization promises efficiency, it must not compromise litigants’ constitutional rights or the confidentiality of sensitive documents, such as wills and financial records. He highlighted Nigeria’s unreliable power supply and uneven internet coverage as major obstacles that could exclude many lawyers and litigants, especially those in remote areas, from effectively using the system.
“The current court registry in Lagos lacks the facilities and space to handle the volume and demands of e-filing,” Adegboruwa said. He recommended postponing full implementation until the court moved to its new, modern complex and suggested running digital and manual filing side-by-side to allow users time to adjust.
The SAN also raised concerns about the integration of e-filing with the Court of Appeal, which still operates manually, potentially complicating the appeal process and record transmission.
The Federal High Court introduced electronic affidavits last year to improve data protection and streamline court processes. However, Adegboruwa’s call reflects broader challenges in adopting digital systems within Nigeria’s judiciary, balancing innovation with practical realities and privacy safeguards.
