Business
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NIGERIA loses about N127 billion yearly as a result of infractions of the laws, rules and cybercrimes, Justice Rosaline Bozimo, an administrator, National Judicial Institute, NJI, disclosed on Monday, October 31, in Lagos.
Bozimo spoke at the opening of the seventh Annual Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in Telecoms organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, in conjunction with the Nigerian Judicial Commission, NJC. She noted that while the telecoms sector had grown with more than 150miilion active mobile lines, allegations of fraudulent deductions from customers’ accounts, unsolicited messages and others had become a great concern in the industry.
According to her, another issue that is plaguing the country is the rising scourge of kidnapping and the fact that security agencies have had to struggle to identify devices and location of kidnappers and their victims.
“The Boko Haram terrorists use mobile lines to coordinate their terror activities. These, among other challenges, may require data and information generated from telecoms services (providers) to serve as evidence in the course of prosecution of related cases. Thus, the need for continuing education of judges in respect of the operations of the telecoms industry is essentially necessary in order to enable them make better informed decisions,” Bozimo said.
In his key note address, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, chief justice of Nigeria, CJN, noted the NCC had advanced the use of information communications technology, ICT, for different aspects of national development.
The CJN, who was represented by Justice Walter Ononghen of the Supreme Court, said: “With these new technologies and services, traditional business models and concept of regulation are now being challenged. In this context, policymakers, regulators and courts face significant challenges as the telecoms industry is growing fast into the more complex areas and form. The judiciary, as an arbiter cannot be left behind the times. We are currently undergoing various technological reformations and an ethical resurgence that is repositioning the third arm of government for better justice delivery.”
According to him, in keeping with best practices and the demands of a technology age, judges must possess a sound knowledge of the law and procedures while becoming proficient in the use of ICT to expedite justice delivery.
“The modern judiciary that we are creating through the introduction of the renowned Nigeria Case Management System, NCS, makes knowledge of ICT pre-requisite to progress on the bench and we are determined to make the phased transition from paper to based system to an automated one,” the CJN said.
In any case, Umar Danbatta, chief executive officer, NCC, said the programme was conceptualised to bridge the knowledge gaps in topical and emerging areas of telecoms with a view to keeping the judiciary abreast of relevant issues in the industry.
“The emergence of over-the-top (OTT) services which is a non-traditional means of communication has left telecoms regulators all over the world grappling with the issues of whether to regulate or not while balancing the expectations of relevant stakeholders in the industry,” Danbatta said.
— Nov 1, 2016 @ 15:50 GMT
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