Paradigm Initiative is organising a capacity-building workshop to empower government prosecutors to prosecute cases committed through or facilitated by digital technologies, specifically examining new Artificial Intelligence (AI) trends in alignment with constitutional provisions and international human rights standards.
The two-day workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, is being held under the theme, “Prosecution in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” It is organised by Paradigm Initiative with support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the Stemming the Tide of Abuse in Nigeria’s Digital Space (STANDS) Project. Drawing from new trends in the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital systems into public administration and criminal investigations, it aims to find a balance through deep examination and understanding of how these technologies function, the new risks they pose, and the necessary safeguards to ensure that citizens’ fundamental rights remain protected.
This workshop comes at a crucial time, as criminal procedure laws have yet to fully catch up with the realities of the digital age and the evolving ways in which offences are committed. Increasingly, digital platforms are weaponised against victims, violating their privacy and exposing them to harm. With emerging technologies, these threats are becoming more sophisticated, placing mounting pressure on prosecutors to deliver results.
Speaking at the workshop’s opening, Khadijah El-Usman, Paradigm Initiative’s Senior Programmes Officer for Anglophone West Africa and lead on the workshop, highlighted that failure to build this capacity now risks widening the gap between the speed of technological change and the legal system’s ability to respond. This could lead to ill-equipped prosecutors, unintended violations of rights during investigations, and a further loss of public trust in the justice system.
She added, “By investing in targeted training, we can ensure prosecutors are not only keeping pace with emerging threats but are also positioned to advocate for evolving laws in the space.”
In his remarks, the deputy ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy to Nigeria, Robert Sonnemans, praised the way in which Nigeria is embracing the digital age and the opportunities that come with it. “Artificial intelligence is a clear example of both promise and risk, holding immense potential to strengthen investigations and improve access to justice, but also pressing questions on how to ensure fairness and prevent bias or misuse.
The Deputy Director, Department of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Barrister Ali Baba Rijaiu, urged participants to embrace the training, in his words, “the work we do shapes the trust of citizens in the justice system. If we rise to the demand of this digital age, we will not only defeat crime, we will also safeguard freedom and show that justice in Nigeria is not left behind by technology but strengthened by it.”
