Akwa Ibom Judiciary Deploys Artificial Intelligence to Speed Up Court Proceedings

The Akwa Ibom State Judiciary has commenced the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in court proceedings as part of efforts to enhance efficiency and accelerate the dispensation of justice.

The initiative began with a pilot training programme held Tuesday at the judiciary headquarters along Wellington Bassey Way in Uyo, bringing together key stakeholders in the state’s justice sector.

At the flag-off ceremony held on Monday, the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete F. Fabian-Obot, led other top officials including the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom SAN; the Chief Registrar, Affiong Usimka; judges and magistrates; the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Uyo Branch, Ime Umofia; and a representative of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja.

In her opening remarks, Justice Fabian-Obot commended the trainers for supporting the initiative and acknowledged the role of the media in promoting transparency, public understanding and confidence in the justice system.

She emphasized the need for the judiciary to embrace modern technology, noting that delays in the justice delivery system often undermine public trust.

According to her, the integration of artificial intelligence into court processes could significantly improve legal research, case management and overall court administration.

Justice Fabian-Obot explained that the technology would reduce the burden of longhand writing traditionally associated with court proceedings, which has often posed health challenges for judges who spend long hours recording court sessions manually.

However, she stressed that while AI can assist in court operations, it cannot replace judicial reasoning or discretion.

“Sound judgment remains a human responsibility guided by conscience, legal precedent and the Constitution,” she said.

The Chief Judge added that the training programme would allow judicial officers to understand both the capabilities and ethical limits of AI, ensuring that the technology is used responsibly and in line with judicial independence, due process and accountability.

Speaking at the event, Managing Director of LexScript AI, Emeka Albert, said the week-long training would involve technical assessments of selected courtrooms and installation of audio capture and transcription equipment.

He explained that during the demonstration phase, the system will be deployed in live court sittings, capturing up to 10 cases daily and generating verbatim transcripts within 24 hours.

A representative of the NJI, Chrystine Edwards, disclosed that Akwa Ibom is among six states selected nationwide for the pilot programme.