At the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference 2025, Hassana Barnabas-Agbada, Head of Commercial Operations and Legal Services at Union Systems Limited and Business Analyst for Curia, delivered a thought-provoking paper on the theme “The Future of Justice Administration in Nigeria”. Speaking during the panel session on Disruptive Artificial Intelligence, she underscored the urgent need for the Nigerian legal community to embrace technology responsibly.
Barnabas-Agbada painted a vivid contrast between Nigeria’s present courtrooms still burdened with piles of paperwork and endless adjournments and a future where artificial intelligence streamlines processes, enabling judges, lawyers, and citizens to engage in justice delivery more efficiently. “Both pictures are Nigeria; one is today, and the other is possible today,” she remarked, emphasizing that choices about technology adoption will define the trajectory of the justice system.
Highlighting the opportunities AI offers, she noted its role in legal research, contract analysis, predictive litigation tools, and judiciary automation. These, she said, could reduce case backlogs, cut delays, and empower lawyers to focus on advocacy rather than routine paperwork. Yet, she cautioned against uncritical adoption, stressing the importance of professional ethics, data protection, and accountability. “The issue is no longer if AI will shape law, but how—and whether we ensure it is done responsibly, transparently, and with human accountability at its core,” she warned.
Barnabas-Agbada also spotlighted Curia, a Nigerian-built justice automation platform by Union Systems, as a homegrown response to these challenges. Curia, she explained, addresses inefficiencies in case management, transcription, communication, and data oversight. Unlike imported solutions, it is designed with Nigeria’s courts and local realities in mind, enabling end-to-end case tracking, AI-powered documentation, and online access for citizens.
Looking ahead, she acknowledged obstacles such as resistance to change, infrastructure limitations, and ethical concerns, urging collaboration across stakeholders. “Judges must champion reform, governments must provide infrastructure and policy support, the NBA must drive training, and educators must prepare students for the AI era,” she said.
In conclusion, AI is not the adversary of law inefficiency is. As Nigeria navigates this digital era, Barnabas-Agbada called on the legal profession to engage critically with technology, blending timeless principles of justice with the transformative power of innovation.
