Nigerian Legal Experts Advocate for AI Governance Frameworks

Judges, lawyers, and technology experts convened in Port Harcourt at the Legal Excellence & AI Leadership Symposium, which included the AI Justice Hackathon 2026 and the launch of “AI, Justice and the Rule of Law: The Denton-West Principles for AI Governance, Digital Sovereignty and Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria.” The book was edited by Obele Tom-George Akinniranye and aims to address the implications of AI in the justice system. Akinniranye emphasized the need for governance policies and AI literacy for users and operators before, during, and after AI deployment.

She argued that responsibility for AI-assisted harm should lie with the humans and institutions using the technology. Justice Olasumbo Olanrewaju Goodluck stated that while AI could assist the Judiciary, it must not replace constitutional obligations.

The symposium was part of activities celebrating the 80th birthday of Chief Hon. Justice Sotonye Denton-West, JCA (Emeritus), a former Justice of the Court of Appeal.