Cleen Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO ), in collaboration with the Abuja branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has unveiled a resource center to provide records of court judgements at zero cost to both lawyers, litigants, media and the public.
The Executive Director, Dr Benson Olugbuo explained that the essence of this was because court judgements would now be at the finger tips of both lawyers and litigants within seven days from final judgment.
He said the resource center was to also promote accountability and transparency in the Criminal Justice System.
Dr Benson during the inauguration on Monday in Abuja, said that the center was a human capacity development and empowerment center for every Nigerian.
Olugbuo said that the resource center was being inaugurated with the support of the MacArthur Foundation, an NGO, to provide records of court judgements at zero cost to both lawyers, litigants, media and the public.
According to him, court judgements would now be at the finger tips of both lawyers and litigants within seven days from final judgment.
He further said instead of waiting for the hard copies of court judgments, the judgments would be made available to lawyers at their finger tips.
According to him, datas from courts would be collected, uploaded and updated into our UWAZI application online within seven days from the date of judgments.
Olugbuo said the concept was to digitalise records of court judgments for reference and research purposes.
He also said that the UWAZI application online platform was very accessible as the platform could be accessed with or without internet connections.
The UWAZI is a web platform by cleen foundation aimed at digitalising courts proceedings and judgments in Nigeria with the view to promoting accountability and transparency in the fight against corruption.
It enables users to scan, upload, publish court documents and create a table of contents while end users can search, filter documents, track changes, cross reference and download documents and court rulings on criminal cases.
The NBA Chairman, Abuja branch, Barr Folarin Aluko commended the foundation, saying that the resource center was an applaudable initiative.
Aluko who was represented by Barrister Tunji Adeyebi said that the establishment of the centre was a long awaited one.
According to him, getting data and resources for court cases is not very affordable for lawyers, especially young and upcoming lawyers.
“This centre would boost lawyers interests in criminal cases, it would also save cost and reduce time wastage.
“The centre will also enhance proper recording and monitoring of court cases, empower and equip lawyers in administering criminal justice in the country,”he said.
Aluko said that the NBA in Abuja was currently partnering with prosecutors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to also boost the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
