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EPPiSM Baner

No. 2/2026/78 (2026)

Artykuły

Artificial Intelligence and the Right to a Fair Hearing Within Nigerian Judicial Proceedings: Navigating the Line Between Efficiency and Justice

Published: 2026-06-30

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative technology in various aspects of human activities, and the judicial system is no exception. In the meantime, AI is increasingly being deployed in the administration of the justice system in Nigeria, ranging from e-filing systems, digital case management, and virtual court proceedings to prospective applications in predictive judgment. While AI undoubtedly promises efficiency, reduced case backlogs, and cost-effectiveness, it also poses significant legal and ethical challenges, which include its impact on the infringement of the right to a fair hearing—a right primarily protected under Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and several other laws, including the Evidence Act 2011, Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, state Administration of Criminal Justice Laws, Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, among others. This paper adopts a doctrinal method of legal research to critically examine the integration of AI into the judicial proceedings and whether it enhances or threatens the right to a fair hearing in Nigeria. It further interrogates whether algorithmic decision-making, lack of transparency, data bias, and other factors associated with computerization nature of AI compromise the procedural guarantees of fairness, impartiality, and the doctrine of the rule of law. Through doctrinal and comparative analysis, this paper considers the compatibility of AI-driven reforms with Nigerian constitutional and human rights jurisprudence to meet the global best practices. The paper concludes that AI should serve as a tool for justice and not a substitute for it for assurances of a credible, fair, and equitable judicial proceeding in Nigeria. The introduction of a continuous legal education module on AI for judges, lawyers, and court staff is recommended to ensure a cautious application through the enactment of an AI and Justice Regulation Bill.

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