A recent focus group discussion organised by the Law Hub Advocacy Development Centre has shed light on significant challenges facing the case management system within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
The event, which was held on September 27, 2024, at the Judicial Conference Centre, brought together key stakeholders from across the criminal justice sector to assess and propose improvements to the court’s case management processes.
Representatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Correctional Service, Legal Aid Council, Ministry of Justice, and various civil society organisations highlighted a range of issues plaguing the current system. These include delays in case assignments, inadequate tracking mechanisms, and poor coordination between different justice sector entities.
A police representative outlined the flow of cases through various levels, emphasising challenges in timely case assignment. The Legal Aid Council noted staffing shortages and funding constraints as major hurdles. Defence lawyers raised concerns about delayed service of proof of evidence and prolonged case assignment periods.
The judiciary representatives described the FCT High Court’s hybrid case management system, which combines manual and digital components. However, they acknowledged that its lack of centralisation and synchronisation undermines the system’s effectiveness.
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the urgent need for digitisation. Participants stressed that a fully digital, accessible, and centralised case management tool is essential to address current inefficiencies, streamline case tracking, and enhance stakeholder coordination.
Resource constraints were identified as a significant barrier to improvement, with many representatives highlighting how limited funding and inadequate staffing hinder case management efficiency.
Recommendations from the focus group included increased funding for critical infrastructure and staffing needs, the development of a centralized digital case management system, the establishment of clearer guidelines for stakeholder roles and responsibilities, and regular stakeholder engagement for continuous system improvement.
Following this discussion, the Law Hub Advocacy Development Centre plans to develop a structured questionnaire for broader stakeholder input and conduct interviews with FCT High Court judges. These efforts will culminate in a comprehensive research report to be presented at an upcoming criminal justice sector conference that will be organised by the Juritrust Centre for Socio-Legal Research and Documentation and funded by the MacArthur Foundation at the end of October.
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