Reacting to the notice in a statement issued on Monday, Adegboruwa commended the Court for its enduring reforms aimed at fast-tracking the filing, assignment, and hearing of cases in the Lagos Division. 

Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, has called for the suspension of the Federal High Court's plan to digitise its registry in the Lagos Judicial Division, citing concerns over the potential impact on access to justice. 

SaharaReporters reported last week that the Administrative Judge of the Lagos Division of the Federal Court in public notice had announced the court would commence digitisation of its registry effective June 23, 2025, with filing of cases and documents to be done solely through its e-filing portal.

Reacting to the notice in a statement issued on Monday, Adegboruwa commended the Court for its enduring reforms aimed at fast-tracking the filing, assignment, and hearing of cases in the Lagos Division. 

However, he expressed concerns about the hasty implementation of the digitisation plan. 

"By the content of the press release issued to notify the general public of the commencement of digital filing, there is no option for manual filing of processes in the Lagos Division as from June 23, 2025, which is less than a month’s notice," he noted.

The Senior Advocate suggests that the implementation of the e-filing regime be delayed until the Court relocates to its new, ultra-modern complex. 

"The registry of the present Federal High Court cannot accommodate the volume of work associated with e-filing," he argued. 

He also proposed that the Court should engage and interact with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), lawyers, and litigants to achieve robust enlightenment on the new system.

Adegboruwa raises questions about the holistic digitisation of the court process. "Will litigants file their processes digitally and judges will thereafter conduct their proceedings manually?" he asked. 

He also wondered how lawyers would apply for and obtain certified true copies of records of proceedings, rulings, and judgments digitally.

The Senior Advocate emphasised the need for caution, ensuring that innovative ideas did not deprive people of justice that they deserve and desperately long for. 

"It is important to ensure that this lofty idea is not implemented in any way that may cause justice to be out of the reach of ordinary Nigerians who are mostly the victims of abuses, violations, and denial of rights," he said.

Adegboruwa also highlights the challenges of infrastructure in Nigeria, including poor power supply and internet coverage. "Nigeria is currently struggling with durable power supply and internet coverage," he noted. "Many people rely on alternative private power supply, which involves expenses of diesel and petrol."

He expresses concerns about the potential impact of digitisation on litigants and lawyers operating in remote areas. 

"How do they catch up with digitisation?" he asked. "Legal practice should not be the vocation of the elites alone, given the express provisions of section 6 (6) (b) of the Constitution which grants unfettered right of access to justice to every person."

Adegboruwa also raises questions about the appeal process and the transmission of records of appeal. 

"Will record of appeal be transmitted digitally from the Federal High Court to the Court of Appeal to be printed and used manually?" he asked.

In conclusion, Adegboruwa appeals to the authorities of the Court to consider suspending or delaying the implementation of the digital filing regime. "Let the staff of the court in charge of this process continue to engage and interact with the Nigerian Bar Association, lawyers, and litigants for the purpose of achieving robust enlightenment," he appealed. 

"And even when it commences, let digitisation run contemporaneously with manual filing until such a time that all those who patronize the court have become accustomed with the new system."