Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere Ekun has stressed that the success of ongoing judicial reforms depends on sustained partnership between the bench and the bar, telling the outgoing leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association that the legal profession and the judiciary share a common responsibility for the efficient administration of justice and the rule of law.
Kekere Ekun made the observation while receiving a farewell delegation from the outgoing NBA leadership at the Supreme Court complex on July 9, according to a statement from her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Tobi Soniyi, thanking the outgoing leadership for its cordial relationship and constructive engagement with the judiciary throughout its tenure, and specifically for its support of the recently inaugurated Nigerian Case Management System at the Supreme Court. She assured the delegation that the Supreme Court remains committed to continually refining the electronic filing platform based on the practical experience of court users.
NBA President and delegation leader Afam Osigwe pledged the legal profession’s support for the successful rollout of the case management system and the recently issued Supreme Court Practice Directions on Mandatory Upload of Electronic Copies of Processes, Records of Appeal and Other Matters 2026, commending the court for introducing the electronic filing system as a significant milestone in modernising the administration of justice and assuring the CJN of the bar’s readiness to work collaboratively toward its successful implementation. Osigwe did raise concerns about certain provisions of the new practice directions, requesting comprehensive user manuals and training materials to help the NBA leadership properly sensitise and train practitioners on the new system. Responding, Chief Registrar Kabir Akanbi assured the delegation the practice directions were carefully designed to facilitate rather than hinder legal practice before the Supreme Court, explaining the electronic filing system includes safeguards to protect litigants’ and practitioners’ interests while improving the court’s efficiency, and confirmed comprehensive user manuals and training materials have already been prepared, requesting the NBA nominate representatives to work closely with Supreme Court officials during implementation to ensure a smooth transition to the new electronic filing regime. The Chief Justice had unveiled the system the previous week as a groundbreaking innovation expected to reshape legal practice in the country.
