Taraba Judiciary Embraces Digital Justice Tools with NCMS, Legal Mail and E‑Filing Rollout
Justice Joel Agya, the Chief Judge of Taraba State, has formally announced that the State High Court has adopted the Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS), Legal Mail, and the e-Filing application platform.
The Chief Judge made this declaration during a Roundtable Stakeholders’ Discussion on the enrollment and onboarding of the Taraba State High Court into the NCMS, Legal Mail, and e-Filing system, held in Jalingo on Wednesday.
Justice Agya emphasized that the world has fully embraced Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and the Taraba State Judiciary cannot afford to be left behind in this global transition.
According to him, the initiative goes beyond a mere technological upgrade. It represents a firm commitment to efficiency, transparency, and the timely delivery of justice across the state.
He revealed that a pilot programme has already commenced, beginning with the Chief Judge’s Court, to digitize court proceedings. This, he explained, will serve as the foundation for a broader rollout across the state.
Judicial officers and staff, including Judges, Registrars, Litigation Officers, and Court Clerks, have undergone training on e-Filing and the NCMS platform. The training, he noted, is designed to ensure smooth adoption and effective use of the new system.
Justice Agya further disclosed that the long-term goal is to achieve a full rollout of digitized courtrooms across all High Courts and, eventually, the lower courts. The expansion, he said, will likely be phased, with priority given to urban centres where infrastructure is more reliable.
He stressed that the success of this reform depends on collective understanding and cooperation among stakeholders. The roundtable, he added, provides a vital platform for exchanging ideas, identifying challenges, and charting a clear path for seamless implementation.
The Chief Judge commended the National Judicial Council (NJC), under the leadership of Justice Kekere Ekun, Chief Justice of Nigeria, as well as the Judiciary Information Technology Policy Committee (JITPC) chaired by Justice Kashim Zanna, for their guidance and support in driving the reform.
In their remarks, Justice Kashim Zanna, Chief Judge of Borno State and Chairman of JITPC, and Mr. Yakubu Maikasuwa (SAN), Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Taraba State, both lauded the initiative. They described it as a landmark innovation that will enhance judicial service delivery, reduce the workload of judicial staff, and align the Taraba Judiciary with global best practices. The event was attended by Judges, Registrars, Heads of Chambers, security agencies, the Legal Aid Council, the National Human Rights Commission, and other key stakeholders.
