Judges, lawyers and technology experts have called for stronger safeguards, human oversight and clear governance frameworks as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into Nigeria’s justice system and wider public life.
The call was made in Port Harcourt during the Legal Excellence & AI Leadership Symposium, held alongside the AI Justice Hackathon 2026 and the launch of AI, Justice and the Rule of Law: The Denton-West Principles for AI Governance, Digital Sovereignty and Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria.
The book was edited by lawyer and legal-technology researcher Obele Tom-George Akinniranye.
The events formed part of activities marking the 80th birthday of Chief Hon. Justice Sotonye Denton-West, JCA (Emeritus), a former Justice of the Court of Appeal. They brought together members of the Judiciary, legal practitioners, academics, technology professionals and other stakeholders to examine the implications of AI for justice, governance and constitutional democracy.
AI Governance And Literacy
Speaking on the book, Akinniranye said responsible adoption of AI requires governance policies and widespread AI literacy before, during and after the deployment of AI systems.
She stressed that organisations adopting AI should establish appropriate governance structures while ensuring that users and operators understand the technology, its capabilities and its limitations.
According to her, AI literacy should be a major priority for institutions considering the deployment of AI tools.
Akinniranye also addressed the question of liability where an AI-assisted system causes harm. She argued that responsibility should ordinarily remain with the humans and institutions deploying or using the technology, while developers could also bear responsibility depending on the circumstances.
She described AI primarily as a tool, drawing an analogy with other technologies where responsibility rests on the people who deploy and use them.
The legal-technology researcher also advocated stronger institutional structures for AI deployment in Nigeria, including governance committees and clearly defined policies for addressing problems that may arise from the use of AI.
She said the principles informing the book include transparency, explainability, interoperability, fairness and non-bias.
Akinniranye further proposed what she described as a “five-way traffic” conception of justice, expanding the traditional relationship among people, law and institutions to include data, AI systems and people affected by the application of law.
Rule Of Law Remains Paramount
Justice Olasumbo Olanrewaju Goodluck, one of the panellists, said AI could assist the Judiciary but should not displace constitutional obligations or judicial responsibility.
She urged judges to exercise caution when dealing with lawyers’ submissions or research materials that may have been produced with AI assistance.
According to her, judicial decisions must remain grounded in established law, evidence and the constitutional responsibilities of judges.
Justice Obietonbara Owupele Daniel-Kalio similarly called for human control and guardrails, particularly as AI-generated deepfakes, manipulated evidence and other sophisticated forms of digital content become more prevalent.
He acknowledged that AI could improve efficiency and provide analytical support, but warned against excessive dependence on automated systems in the administration of justice.
His position was that humans should remain in control of AI applications, with the technology serving as an aid to human decision-making rather than replacing human judgement and discretion.
Justice Sotonye Denton-West also reflected on the growing role of AI in legal decision-making, stressing the importance of caution and independent evaluation.
Drawing from an early encounter with a driverless vehicle, she raised concerns about the implications of increasingly autonomous technology and the possibility of judicial actors relying excessively on AI-generated materials without independently assessing the facts, law and circumstances of individual cases.
While describing AI as a significant technological development, she emphasised the need to balance innovation with human judgement.
Digital Sovereignty And Judicial Preparedness
Representing the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Tamunoigoni Susan Oji, at the event, the representative commended the initiative and described the focus on AI and justice as timely.
The keynote address, delivered on behalf of the Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah, also highlighted digital sovereignty, judicial preparedness and constitutional safeguards.
Represented by Mr Daniel Onu, Zannah identified several issues that Nigeria’s emerging AI governance framework would need to address. These include algorithmic bias, automated decision-making, cybersecurity, privacy, data governance, intellectual property, digital evidence and liability.
He also argued that technological modernisation should strengthen rather than weaken judicial independence, access to justice and fundamental rights.
The keynote further stressed that AI should augment human leadership rather than replace it.
While machines can process large volumes of information, analyse data and identify patterns, the address noted that questions involving purpose, ethical judgement, empathy and constitutional responsibility remain fundamentally human responsibilities.
AI Justice Hackathon
The symposium and book launch followed the AI Justice Hackathon 2026, themed “Designing Responsible AI for Justice, Governance and Digital Sovereignty in Africa.”
The hackathon brought together law students, lawyers, researchers, developers and AI professionals to explore technology-based solutions for challenges within the justice system.
Areas examined included legal information, legal aid, dispute resolution and access to justice.
The combination of the hackathon and the symposium highlighted the growing intersection between legal practice and emerging technology in Nigeria.
As AI adoption expands across government, business and professional services, participants at the Port Harcourt event emphasised that technological advancement must be accompanied by clear rules, institutional preparedness and accountability.
For Nigeria’s justice system, the central issue is therefore not simply whether AI can be used, but how it can be deployed responsibly while preserving constitutional principles and human responsibility.
The discussions also point to the need for lawyers, judges, technology professionals and other justice-sector stakeholders to develop a shared understanding of AI and its limitations.
With AI increasingly capable of generating legal text, analysing information and producing sophisticated digital content, stronger safeguards and professional literacy will become increasingly important.
The stakeholders at the symposium ultimately placed human judgement at the centre of responsible AI adoption in the justice system, while recognising the potential of the technology to improve efficiency, expand access to information and support legal processes.