Judges of the Federal High Court and National Industrial Court in Nigeria have committed to upholding global digital rights standards by endorsing the Ikot Ekpene Declaration.
The move, aimed at strengthening justice in the digital age, was announced following a workshop on digital rights and cyber governance held in Akwa Ibom.
The workshop, titled “Upholding Justice in the Digital Age: Strengthening Judicial Capacity on Digital Rights and Cyber Governance,” was organized by Paradigm Initiative with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the STANDS Project.
It brought together judicial leaders, officials from the National Human Rights Commission, and the National Judicial Institute to address legal gaps and enforcement challenges in the digital space.
Speaking at the event, Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, emphasized the need for the judiciary to adapt to the evolving digital landscape while maintaining constitutional principles.
‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, underscored the judiciary’s critical role in digital governance, noting that “the marriage between digital opportunities and economies is strengthened by judicial oversight.” He called on judges to recognize emerging digital challenges as technology advances.
Senior Officer for Anglophone West Africa, Khadijah El-Usman, also highlighted the importance of judicial engagement in digital rights protection, commending the Netherlands Embassy for supporting the initiative.
The Ikot Ekpene Declaration outlines key recommendations for judicial officers, including ensuring clarity in judicial reasoning, upholding human rights principles, expanding access to justice for vulnerable groups, and advancing the digitalization of the judiciary.
With growing concerns over privacy, cyber regulations, and digital manipulation, Nigerian judges are stepping up efforts to align justice delivery with global best practices, ensuring that digital rights remain protected within the framework of the law.
