The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court is to begin ‘real-time online’ filing of cases from the 2011-2012 legal year.
This was contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja from the office of the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Lawal Gummi.
The statement quoted Gummi as saying that the system would make it possible for litigants outside the country to file cases, as well as?? monitor? the progress of their cases via the internet.
Gummi also described the e-court initiative as a novelty, adding that the system would further enhance justice delivery in the FCT.
“All judges of the FCT High Court would be assigned to hear cases filed electronically and also determine same through the e-court system.
“Under this system, which is already practised in countries like Malaysia, litigants can institute their case even from outside the country.
“They can select their counsel online, monitor the progress of the case from inception to judgement and a certified true copy made available to them within 24 hours,’’ he stated.
Already, the FCT High Court has completed all ICT-compliant training schemes for judges, court registrars and clerks in order to keep them abreast of what the online litigation method entailed, the statement added.
It also stated that and video recordings of court proceedings would be saved on digital formats and stored in hard disks.