The Ekiti State High Court has commenced the adoption of a digital case management system, with electronic filing becoming effective from October 22, 2026, in a move aimed at reducing delays, improving efficiency and strengthening access to justice.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji said the introduction of the Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS) would help eliminate bottlenecks associated with manual court procedures and promote faster and more efficient justice delivery.
He spoke at the official launch of the platform for the Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti, describing the development as a significant step towards modernising the state’s judicial system.
The governor, who was represented by the Acting Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Gbemiga Adaramola, SAN, said the initiative represented more than the introduction of new technology, describing it as a fundamental shift towards a more efficient and digitally driven justice system.
According to him, a reliable and efficient judiciary is essential for economic development, social stability and investor confidence.
“When our administration outlined our multi-pillar agenda for shared prosperity, we recognised that a stable, predictable and highly efficient judicial system is the bedrock of economic growth, social peace and investor confidence,” Oyebanji said.
He added that integrating the state’s court operations into the nationwide digital platform demonstrated his administration’s commitment to innovation and good governance.
The governor also commended the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, and other judicial officers for their efforts towards improving court administration and embracing technological reforms.
He said the electronic filing application would reduce bureaucratic delays and make judicial procedures more accessible and predictable for lawyers and litigants.
The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, also praised the initiative, saying it would simplify the filing of cases and reduce the risk of court documents being misplaced.
Aribasoye noted that the state legislature had adopted paperless operations and live broadcasts of plenary proceedings as part of its own digital transformation efforts.
He said the executive and judicial arms were similarly embracing technology to improve public service delivery.
Earlier, Ogunmoye explained that the state judiciary had taken steps towards digital transformation through the inauguration of its Standing Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy Implementation on July 5, 2021.
He said the committee was established to develop a comprehensive ICT policy for the judiciary, including the deployment of the NCMS electronic filing portal.
According to the chief judge, a stakeholders’ conference on the enrolment and onboarding of the High Court onto the platform was held on February 9, 2026, paving the way for its official launch.
Ogunmoye said the system would integrate electronic filing, case registration, scheduling, tracking and general case management, helping to reduce paperwork and improve the handling of court proceedings.
He added that the platform would make justice more accessible while aligning the state judiciary with global technological developments.
However, the chief judge stressed that an appropriate legal framework was necessary to ensure the effective and sustainable operation of the system.
He observed that the Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2014, as amended, the Ekiti State Administration of Civil Justice Law 2019, and the High Court of Ekiti State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2020 did not specifically provide for electronic filing of court processes.
The legal gap, he explained, made it necessary to issue practice directions establishing a framework for the new arrangement.
Ogunmoye announced that the Adoption and Deployment of the Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS) in Criminal and Civil Proceedings 2026 Practice Directions would take effect on October 22, 2026.
Under the new provisions, he said, only documents received and stored through the High Court’s NCMS electronic filing portal would constitute proper court records for new cases filed from the effective date.
He added that copies of the practice directions would be available at the High Court library for a token fee.
The chief judge expressed appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for providing an enabling environment for the judiciary to discharge its responsibilities.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Chief Judge of Borno State and Chairman of the Judiciary Information Technology Policy Committee, Justice Kashim Zannah, OFR, alongside judges, magistrates, registrars, ICT personnel, administrative staff and members of the Bar who contributed to the initiative.
