Minister tasks judges on laws to harness technology potential

By Derrick Bangura

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isah Pantami, has urged judges to come up with laws that would effectively harness the potential of technology in the country.

Pantami made the call at the opening of the 2022 ICT Workshop for justices of the Court of Appeal.

The two-day workshop is part of an endeavor to improve the delivery of justice using digital media.

In a keynote presentation, the minister stated that the ICT training, which is in accordance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s digital transformation, will improve the abilities of judges in the fulfillment of their responsibilities.

Pantami, who was represented by NITDA’s Director-General, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, stressed the importance of Justices ensuring legality in all digital systems and platforms, saying, “Whatever is unlawful outside should equally be prohibited online.”

Technology, he claims, is not simply a strong weapon for examining and monitoring people, objects, and countries; it has steadily taken over every element of human endeavors, necessitating the adoption of appropriate rules and enforcement to prevent exploitation.

“We need to extend our rules to control technology,” he continued, “because if we don’t establish a system with legal brains, our democracy will be challenged.”

According to him, systems that are biased or do not grasp our laws would have a negative influence on individuals and the country.

“The future will be digital,” he continued, “therefore we have suitable rules that will lead us in developing and deploying technology.”

Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, President of the Court of Appeal, stated that the ICT training will assist reduce the time spent on justice delivery while also improving the quality of service delivery in the court.