The role of ethics in determining the success of digital transformation in Nigeria’s justice system sparked a lively exchange of ideas during the third session of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch Law Week 2026. The Oxford-style debate, themed “Digital Innovation Will Fail to Reform Nigeria’s Justice System if Ethical Compromise Remains the Bane of the Legal Profession,” featured compelling arguments from Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Supo Shasore, SAN, and legal practitioner Mr. Babajide Ogundipe, with Mrs. Hairat Aderinsola Balogun, OON, serving as Session Chair.
Opening the session, Mrs. Hairat Aderinsola Balogun emphasized that ethics remain the foundation of the legal profession, regardless of the pace of technological advancement. She observed that while digital tools are transforming legal practice, they cannot replace the professional values of honesty, integrity, accountability and independence that sustain public confidence in the justice system. According to her, technology should strengthen ethical legal practice rather than diminish it, as the credibility of the judiciary ultimately depends on the conduct of those who operate within it.
Arguing in support of the motion, Supo Shasore, SAN, maintained that digital innovation alone cannot reform Nigeria’s justice system if ethical compromise continues to exist among legal practitioners and other stakeholders. He contended that justice is fundamentally built on human judgment, trust and integrity qualities that no technological system can independently guarantee.
Shasore noted that while technology can improve efficiency, it cannot resolve every challenge confronting the justice sector. He explained that applications, algorithms and automated systems cannot determine issues that require moral judgment, professional discretion or compassion. “An app cannot solve everything,” he argued, stressing that justice involves human reasoning and values that machines cannot replicate.
Using practical illustrations, he explained that while an electronic filing platform may successfully receive court processes, it cannot prevent a lawyer from deliberately presenting misleading information or ensure that a judicial officer remains impartial in making decisions. Similarly, artificial intelligence may assist with legal research or document review, but it cannot independently determine fairness or deliver justice where ethical standards have been compromised. According to him, if those entrusted with administering justice lack integrity, digital platforms merely automate existing problems rather than eliminate them.
Presenting the opposing argument, Mr. Babajide Ogundipe challenged the motion, insisting that digital innovation has the capacity to significantly reform the justice system by reducing excessive human interference. He argued that many of the inefficiencies within Nigeria’s courts stem from manual processes and avoidable human bottlenecks, which technology is increasingly capable of addressing.
Ogundipe submitted that digitalisation, automation, algorithm-driven systems and virtual hearings have already demonstrated their ability to improve judicial efficiency. He observed that electronic case management systems reduce unnecessary delays in filing and assigning cases, while virtual hearings expand access to justice by allowing parties to participate in proceedings without being physically present in court.
He further argued that technology minimizes opportunities for unofficial backroom practices by creating transparent digital records and automated workflows that are easier to monitor and audit. According to him, replacing manual procedures with automated systems can reduce opportunities for manipulation, improve accountability and accelerate justice delivery.
Drawing examples from jurisdictions where courts now operate electronic filing systems and virtual proceedings, Ogundipe maintained that digital innovation has proven capable of shortening case timelines, reducing paperwork and enhancing public access to judicial services. He therefore argued that technology should not be viewed merely as a supporting tool but as a transformative force capable of modernising Nigeria’s justice system.
The debate generated active participation from attendees, who weighed the competing arguments on whether ethical reform should precede technological advancement or whether technology itself could drive greater accountability within the justice sector.
The Oxford-style debate formed part of the NBA Lagos Branch Law Week 2026, themed “Lawyering in the Digital Age,” and underscored the Branch’s commitment to fostering meaningful conversations on the intersection of law, technology and professional responsibility. While opinions differed on the central motion, participants agreed that the future of justice delivery in Nigeria will depend on striking the right balance between technological innovation and unwavering ethical standards.