Federal High Court Begins Full Digital Filing Era

The Federal High Court of Nigeria has officially phased out manual filing of court processes with the launch of its electronic filing (e-filing) system in the Lagos Division, marking a significant shift in the administration of justice in Nigeria.

The Chief Judge of the court, John Tsoho, who presided over the inauguration, described the development as a necessary transformation rather than an optional reform, stressing that the Judiciary must adapt to modern technological realities. He explained that the move is aimed at strengthening transparency and reducing systemic risks associated with physical case files, including loss, damage, and tampering, which have long affected court operations.

 Justice Tsoho further noted that, the new system introduces a complete digital footprint for all judicial processes, making it impossible to backdate filings or circumvent established procedures, while also ensuring accountability in fee collection.

 According to him, litigants can now file processes remotely from any location with internet access, while court registries are no longer bound by traditional closing hours, as digital access remains continuous.

 He added that filing fees will now be processed through integrated pay-ment platforms, ensuring that all revenues are properly recorded, while Lawyers are encouraged to adopt digital signatures and utilise the e-affidavit system for sworn documents.

 Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the Judicial Information Technology Policy Committee, Hon. Justice Kashim Zannah, cited the resilience of digital systems, referencing how courts in Borno State continued operations during a major flood without losing records, as all documents were safely preserved in the cloud.