The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned that while artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are transforming legal practice, they must never replace the constitutional responsibility of judges to determine rights and obligations.
The CJN spoke on Monday while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch Law Week in Lagos.
The event was themed “Lawyering in the Digital Age: Navigating Technology, Justice and Innovation.”
In her address, titled “Beyond Disruption: Redefining Legal Practice at the Intersection of Law, Technology and Justice,” Justice Kekere-Ekun said the rise of artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, digital assets, cybercrime, electronic evidence and synthetic media has fundamentally altered legal practice and judicial adjudication.
She observed that courts are increasingly handling disputes involving emerging technologies, making technological literacy essential for judges.
