RismadarVoice Reporters
September 20, 2026
Senior and retired judges have warned Nigerian legal practitioners against excessive reliance on artificial intelligence, saying uncritical use of the technology in legal research and judicial decision-making could contribute to errors and miscarriages of justice.
The warning was issued on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the launch of a book titled AI, Justice and the Rule of Law: The Denton-West Principles for AI Governance, Digital Sovereignty and Constitutional Democracy.
The publication was produced in honour of retired Court of Appeal Justice Sotonye Denton-West and examines the implications of artificial intelligence for justice, constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
Denton-West said AI could support legal work but should not replace human judgment, reasoning and careful evaluation by lawyers and judges.
She cautioned that relying solely on AI for legal research, preparation of court processes or drafting judgments could create serious risks if information generated by such systems is accepted without verification.
“If judges accept this as it comes without evaluating or being careful, it could lead to a lot of miscarriages of justice,” she said.
LAWYERS MUST VERIFY AI-GENERATED INFORMATION
Retired Rivers State High Court Justice Adolphus Enebeli, who reviewed the book, said lawyers and judges must independently verify information produced by AI systems before relying on it professionally.
Enebeli stressed that legal practitioners remain responsible for materials they submit to courts, regardless of whether artificial intelligence was used in preparing them.
“Whatever you submit, you are accountable for it,” he said.
He acknowledged the growing importance of AI but argued that its adoption must be accompanied by safeguards and professional responsibility.
Justice Tamunoigoni Oji, representing Rivers State Chief Judge Justice Simeon Amadi, said members of the judiciary were already discussing the implications of AI for their work.
She maintained that artificial intelligence should function as a tool assisting judicial officers rather than becoming a substitute for independent human reasoning.
“AI is built for us, not us for AI, so there must be a balance in how we use it,” she said.
CALL FOR AI GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK
Author of the book, Obele Akinniranye, called for comprehensive policies governing the deployment of artificial intelligence within Nigeria’s justice system.
She said technological innovation must remain accountable to existing legal principles while policymakers develop frameworks capable of responding to emerging AI-related challenges.
The discussions highlighted a central concern confronting courts globally: AI can assist with research and other legal tasks, but responsibility for verifying information, interpreting the law and reaching judicial decisions remains with human legal professionals.
