Africa, the second-largest and most populous continent after Asia, spans approximately one-fifth of the Earth’s total land surface. Home to 54 countries and a population estimated to be about 1.5 billion,1 the continent is rich in cultural, linguistic, and political diversity. However, despite its growth and potential, many African nations continue to grapple with significant challenges in their judicial systems—ranging from court congestion and delayed justice delivery to high litigation costs and limited access to legal services.
In Nigeria alone, over 240,0002 cases are currently pending in the superior courts (excluding the Supreme Court), further straining an already overburdened judiciary. In response, the integration of technology into judicial processes has become increasingly vital. This shift has sparked a wave of digital transformation across Africa’s legal sector, with numerous countries exploring and implementing Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) systems as a more efficient means of settling disputes.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the move toward digital justice, prompting many African countries to adopt online courts and electronic systems to maintain access to justice. While the pace of adoption varies, these digital solutions are continuously being refined to uphold principles of fairness and inclusivity.
Countries such as South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, Egypt, and Ghana have taken pioneering steps in deploying ODR platforms in courts. These tools have improved case management, reduced judicial backlogs, and made legal services more accessible. Ultimately, the adoption of digital judicial systems across Africa aims to reduce litigation costs, promote efficiency, and ensure the timely delivery of justice.
Some examples of Countries that have deployed ODR in Courts are:
1. South Africa: In 2020, the South African judiciary implemented an online case management system, enabling parties to file and manage cases electronically. The COURT ONLINE platform is an end-to-end e-filing, digital case management, and evidence management system for South Africa’s High Courts. It allows legal practitioners to file documentation, manage their court diaries, and handle court evidence from any location, at any time, without being physically present in court.3
2. Rwanda: Rwanda’s Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) offers a fully digital court process that encompasses e-filing, case scheduling, and document automation. This system enhances efficiency by streamlining the judicial process and improving transparency.4 IECMS started to be used in 2016 in Kigali City courts and all commercial courts (14 courts in total).5
3. Nigeria: In Nigeria, the judiciary has increasingly embraced digital solutions by introducing online platforms that enable citizens and legal practitioners to resolve disputes electronically. These systems allow for cases to be filed, tracked, and managed online, promoting faster and more accessible legal procedures. Notable platforms include The Federal High Court of Nigeria portal(2016),6 Lagos state High Court Judiciary Information system(2013),7 Imo State Judiciary Information System,8 Ogun State Judiciary E-Registry Platform (2021),9 Abia State Judiciary Information system,10 Rivers State Court Management Information System (2020),11 Ondo State Court Management Information System (2024),12 Delta State Electronic Court Management System,13 Oyo State Court Management Information System (2022)14 and Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS) Electronic Filing (e-filing) Platform (2020)15 which serves as the gateway to filing processes to the superior courts in Nigeria.
4. Egypt: In 2020, Egypt implemented an integrated online portal for Economic Courts known as Electronic Litigation for Economic Courts (ELEC),16 where citizens, lawyers, and other legal stakeholders can register, e-file new cases, follow up on cases, set appointments, make electronic payments, and more. This system improves efficiency and accessibility for all involved parties.
5. Ghana: In 2019,17 the Ghanaian Judiciary launched its E-Justice platform, also known as the Paperless Courts or Electronic Case Management System (ECMS),18 aiming to automate manual filing systems and improve the efficiency of court processes, allowing parties to file and manage cases electronically, thus reducing the logistical challenges and delays often associated with traditional court proceedings.
6. Tanzania: In 2016, the Judiciary of Tanzania launched an e-service portal19 to properly deliver judicial services to the public in the form of case files, cause lists, and copies of judgments, to increase access, transparency and reduce delays.
7. Uganda: In 2021, Uganda commissioned an Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) that includes e-filing, e-processing, case management amongst others.20
8. Cote d’Ivoire also known as Ivory Coast: In 2025, the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire recently launched its E-Justice system.21 The link is not yet publicly distributed.
9. Zimbabwe: The Judicial Service Commission (JCS) adopted the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) in 2022 as an online platform designed to digitalize the litigation process such as e-filing, e-payment, e-calendar, e-summoning, e-signature and stamping etc.
10. Malawi: The e-court platform was launched in 2024, facilitating remote access to court proceedings through video conferencing and virtual hearings, particularly benefiting citizens in rural areas.22
11. Sierra Leone: In 2020, Sierra Leone implemented an e-filing system known as The Justice App to improve access to the judicial process and enhance efficiency, including a mobile-based court case management system, paving the way for a centralized system with public access and e-filing.23
12. African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: In 2020, The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights launched an online platform for submitting cases and communicating with parties, ensuring that justice is accessible even in transnational matters.
In addition to the countries listed above, several others—such as Morocco, Zambia, Burundi, Algeria, and Tunisia—are actively working toward implementing e-court or e-filing systems.
Lagos, called in Nigeria the “City of Excellence” and Nigeria’s commercial hub, is the most populated city in Africa,24 richest city in Nigeria25 and is home to one of the most congested court systems on the continent. The Lagos State Judiciary processes a high volume of cases annually, leading to prolonged litigation, high costs, and systemic inefficiencies. In response, the Lagos State High Court26 and Magistrate Courts27 have both implemented several digital tools to enhance the efficiency of their systems.
Key technological advancements in Lagos include:
• E-Filing System: This system allows litigants to file documents, pay court fees, and track case progress online. The ease of electronic filing reduces the time spent on paperwork and administrative procedures.
• E-Swearing: Through this system, affidavits and other legal documents can be sworn electronically, eliminating the need for physical court visits. A deponent can now sign an affidavit remotely, provided they have a passport attached for identification. Additionally, the deponent and a commissioner of oaths conduct an online meeting to verify the identity of the deponent, after which the affidavit is signed and electronically filed with a QR code and authentication code to validate its authenticity anywhere in the world.
• Digital Payment Systems: Online payment systems facilitate the payment of court fees, significantly reducing delays associated with manual processing and ensuring timely processing of cases.
• Automated Case Assignment: Cases are assigned to judges through an electronic system, enhancing fairness and efficiency by preventing human bias or administrative error.
• Case Tracking: The Magistrate Court’s online platform allows litigants to monitor the progress of their cases in real-time, providing transparency and reducing uncertainty.
• Virtual Hearings: Both the Magistrate and High Courts in Lagos have implemented online hearing systems using virtual meeting applications allowing witnesses to testify remotely, even from outside the jurisdiction. This not only reduces costs but also accelerates case resolution by eliminating logistical barriers. This function is not embedded in the current Lagos state ODR platforms.
By embracing technology, Lagos’ judicial system is indeed moving towards global best practices, promoting a more modern and effective justice delivery system.
Despite the numerous benefits brought by the introduction of digital tools, the Lagos judiciary still faces several challenges that need to be addressed for the system to reach its full potential. These include:
1. Payment Issues: While digital payment systems have greatly streamlined financial transactions, they are not without their challenges. Payment failures or delays, technical glitches, and the need for continuous updates to the digital infrastructure can occasionally disrupt the smooth functioning of the system. Additionally, not all users have access to reliable internet connections or mobile money services, creating a digital divide that could prevent certain groups from fully participating in the judicial process and, in some cases, access to justice.
2. Technological Glitches: Another challenge faced by the digital platform is occasional technological glitches. Users have reported issues with slow load times, pages failing to load, or even being logged out unexpectedly. These technical difficulties raise concerns about whether the platform is equipped to handle high traffic volumes, particularly when large numbers of people are trying to access the system simultaneously. Such issues not only inconvenience users but could also undermine the credibility and reliability of the judicial system.
3. Digital Literacy: A significant challenge to the successful implementation of digital platforms is the varying level of digital literacy among legal practitioners and the public. Many legal professionals may not be familiar with using these platforms, which can hinder their ability to navigate the digital judicial system effectively. Recognizing this, several Bar Associations are already taking proactive steps to train lawyers on how to use these platforms efficiently. However, it remains crucial to continue expanding digital literacy initiatives, ensuring that all stakeholders, including judges, lawyers, and litigants, are well-equipped to take full advantage of the available digital tools.
4. Lack of infrastructure: Many ODR platforms do not have built-in video conferencing capabilities, reliable internet connectivity issues and the necessary technological infrastructure to support such features is often absent.
5. Data protection and privacy issues: There is need to ensuring confidentiality and security of digital records.
6. Training and capacity building needs: More Judiciary staff need to be trained and retrained on the Court filing systems to accelerate adoption and improve efficiency.
7. Integration with existing systems: The judicial systems are not currently integrated into with existing processes like the payment systems hence payment issues are currently experienced which hold up the filing process.
8. Accessibility: There is a need to ensure equal access for all, including those with disabilities.
These challenges highlight the need for careful planning, more investment, and training to ensure a successful digital judiciary.
In 2009, the National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution (NCTDR) issued the first set of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Standards, followed by a set of Ethical Principles for ODR in 2016. The International Council for Online Dispute Resolution (ICODR) updated these standards in 2017, building on the NCTDR’s original guidelines. A further iteration of ODR Standards responding to the developments in technology was collaboratively developed by NCTDR and ICODR and approved in April 2022 through consensus by their leaderships.28
These ODR Standards apply to both ODR practitioners and the technological platforms, systems, and tools used in dispute resolution, and they must be applied in an integrated manner.29
ODR Standards30 require that online dispute resolution platforms and processes must be:
From a practitioner’s perspective, the Lagos State Court systems demonstrate accessibility, equal treatment of litigants and legal practitioners, and adherence to current laws and regulations. However, compliance with other standards remains uncertain due to the lack of assessment. This highlights the need for research to evaluate the different Court systems across Africa.
The introduction of ODR and digital tools in African court systems, especially in Lagos, Nigeria, represents a transformative step in addressing the challenges of overburdened and inefficient judicial systems. By embracing technology, Africa’s courts are not only reducing delays and costs but also improving access to justice for all citizens. However, to fully realize the potential of these advancements, continued investment in infrastructure, digital literacy, and system upgrades will be essential. Africa’s judiciary is poised for a brighter future with the integration of AI and technology. This transformation is already underway.
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