Technology Reshaping Nigeria’s Justice System, Says NDPC Chief

The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has highlighted the growing influence of technology in reshaping Nigeria’s justice system, warning that increased reliance on digital platforms raises concerns about personal data protection, individual freedoms and human dignity.
Olatunji spoke at a capacity-building workshop on data protection and privacy for judicial officers, organised by the NDPC in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI).
He noted that as technology continues to influence the administration of justice, protecting citizens’ personal information must remain a priority.
He emphasised that privacy is a fundamental right guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 provides the legal framework for safeguarding personal data and ensuring accountability among data controllers and processors.
The NDPC chief also explained that the commission and the judiciary have complementary roles in protecting data rights, with the commission responsible for regulatory oversight and the courts providing judicial remedies for grievances relating to data protection.
The workshop was declared open by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, represented by the Administrator of the NJI, Justice B. A. Adejumo.
It attracted more than 50 judges, including chief judges from Ogun, Plateau, Zamfara and Taraba states, as well as other senior judicial officers.