The Supreme Court says from July 16, 2018, it will phase out manual forms of serving court processes in all cases before it and commence serving processes by electronic means on all matters.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, said this on Friday in Abuja at the formal presentation of the ‘newly retrofitted court and legal mail’ at the Supreme Court.

He asked all judges and lawyers to subscribe to and acquire the legal mail, pledging to have the system replicated in all courts in the nearest future.

The system according to the CJN has become imperative to speed up justice delivery in the country

“Manual forms of communication within the Nigerian courts will soon be phased out. Henceforth, lawyers who have acquired a legal email can now communicate electronically with the courts and with each other.

“However, by 16 July 2018, it becomes mandatory. The Supreme Court will only serve processes by electronic means that is, the legal mail, on all matters.

“Hence, all new filing as from 16th July 2018, must bear counsel’s legal email address.

“All courts are also encouraged to start using the email for serving lawyers. In addition, communication between the various judicial bodies will soon be through the official email system only – thereby, harnessing the benefits of the system in terms of confidentiality, integrity and availability,” Onnoghen said.

President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, also believes that the policy is overdue and critical in moving the justice sector forward.

“The email system will undoubtedly easy communication between the court and the bar. It will reduce paper work, speed up the court process and thereby improve the administration of justice.

“It is a major step in the attainment of objectives set out in the Judicial Information Technology policy of the Nigerian Judiciary launched in July 2012, with the mission of fully integrating ICT into our court system,” he said. (Channels TV)

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