NHRC asks judiciary to ensure digital future is anchored on fairness, others

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the Judiciary to ensure that Nigeria’s digital future is anchored in fairness, accountability, and unwavering rule of law.

The Executive Secretary, NHRC, Dr Anthony Ojukwu, said this on Tuesday in his welcome remarks at the ongoing workshop in Ikot Ekpene for Judges and judicial officers.

The theme of the workshop is; Upholding Justice in The Digital Age: Strengthening Judicial Capacity on Digital Rights and Cyber Governance.”

Ojukwu said the workshop, organised in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute and Paradigm Initiative, with the Netherlands Embassy in Nigeria, is to build the capacity of Judges on digital rights and cyber governance.

He noted that technology was reshaping lives, economies, and governance at speed, therefore, the Judiciary should not be left behind.

“This workshop, therefore, is both timely and critical. As custodians of justice, judicial officers must be equipped with the knowledge, tools, and adaptive skills to interpret laws in contexts unimagined just a decade ago.

“We live in a time where technology is reshaping lives, economies, and governance at a breakneck speed.

“Yet, with its boundless opportunities come profound challenges exemplified by data privacy breaches, cybercrime, digital surveillance, and the spread of misinformation, which threaten the very rights we are all sworn to protect.

“In this landscape, the judiciary stands as the last line of defence for citizens navigating the digital frontier,” Ojukwu said.

In his address, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Salisu Abdullahi, said that digital platforms have become central to communication, commerce, governance, and personal expression.

Abdullahi said that the judiciary was confronted with risks posed by online harassment, digital surveillance, misinformation, internet shutdowns, cyberbullying, identity theft, and massive data breaches.

He said that the National Judicial Institute, in line with its statutory mandate, would continue to provide judicial education to enhance judicial competence in both traditional and emerging areas of the law.

He said the theme was apt as it would compel the judges to deliver justice in ways that remain true to constitutional principles, yet responsive to the realities of an increasingly digital society.

“Ultimately, this Workshop seeks to illuminate some of the foregoing issues by exploring the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the need for regulation; the boundaries of digital privacy.

“The imperatives of cyber governance, and the mechanisms for safeguarding data in a manner that preserves individual dignity and public trust.

“It presents us with an invaluable opportunity to exchange perspectives, interrogate assumptions, and collectively sharpen our capacity to respond to the demands of this digital era.

“My Lords, it is no longer sufficient to regard digital rights as abstract or futuristic,” he said.

Abdullahi commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for approving the workshop for judges and the facilitators and resource persons for their willingness to carry out their respective roles at the workshop.

In her remarks, the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom, Justice Ekaette Obot, said the workshop would equip judicial officers on how to navigate online while upholding public safety.

Obot, represented by Justice Archibong Archibong, urged the judiciary to embrace the digital frontier with courage, wisdom and steadfast commitment to fairness.

She added that the workshop would afford the judicial officers and resource persons the willingness to share insights and ideas on cybersecurity.

Mr Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, an NGO focused on digital rights advocacy and facilitator of the workshop, said that digital technology has come to stay.

Sesan urged judges and judiciary officers to embrace digital technology as the custodian of the law and the last hope of the common man.