Judicial independence, artificial intelligence and public confidence in courts are at the centre of the IBA’s inaugural Judges Forum, which is being held this week in Abuja.
Judges from across the globe, including chief justices, heads of divisions, appellate and superior court judges, senior lawyers, academics and civil servants, are meeting in Nigeria for the two-day forum, which kicked off today (9 July).
Titled ‘In defence of justice’, the conference focuses on pressures facing courts as legal systems respond to rapid technological change, increasing scrutiny of judicial decision-making and concerns over the erosion of judicial independence in some jurisdictions.
The IBA said the programme would examine how courts can uphold the rule of law, protect constitutional rights and maintain public confidence in a more complex global environment.
Claudio Visco, the IBA's president, said that independent and trusted courts were “fundamental to the rule of law and to democratic society”, adding that this reflected the association’s commitment to strengthening judicial institutions and promoting international cooperation, as well as his personal commitment to African outreach as president, a key theme of his year in office.
The programme covers judicial independence, the responsible use of artificial intelligence by judges and advocates, judicial education, modern judging, judicial appointments and the future of justice. Delegates visited the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Nigeria, underlining the conference’s emphasis on comparative judicial dialogue.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said: “An independent judiciary is the cornerstone of every constitutional democracy. Anchored on the rule of law and sustained by the integrity, impartiality and courage of judicial officers, it serves as the ultimate guarantor of constitutional rights and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
“As I have often emphasised, the public's confidence in the administration of justice is not secured by constitutional guarantees alone; it is earned through transparency, accountability, consistency and an unwavering fidelity to the law."
Kekere-Ekun, the second woman to hold the position of Chief Justice, is also a prominent advocate for gender equality, both through her membership of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) and as the current President of the National Association of Women Judges Nigeria (NAWJN).
The Hon Justice Mark Livesey, president of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of South Australia and chair of the forum, said AI, judicial independence and public trust were among the “defining challenges” facing courts. He said the conference would allow judicial leaders to discuss how the judiciary should respond to a rapidly changing world.
Justice Ngozika Okaisabor, a justice of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria and a member of the forum's advisory board, added: “Bringing together participants from more than 20 countries, this inaugural conference will provide an important opportunity to exchange perspectives on judicial education, modern judging and the future of justice across jurisdictions.”
The Abuja forum is being held against the background of stronger IBA support for Nigerian business lawyers. Last December, the IBA Bar Issues Commission held its Internationalisation Conference in Lagos. It was aimed at helping Nigerian lawyers respond to the challenges posed by the internationalisation of legal practice from working with foreign firms to advising on cross-border capital, international joint ventures and arbitration.
In May 2025, Lagos hosted the 2nd IBA African Competition Law Conference, jointly presented by the IBA’s Antitrust Section, the African Regional Forum and Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. The conference covered topics including digital markets regulation, merger control, cartel enforcement, consumer protection and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Nigerian human rights lawyer Funke Adeoye was the recipient of the 2025 International Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, which was presented at the IBA's annual conference in Toronto in November.
The early-bird registration deadline for this year's annual conference, which takes place in Copenhagen from 4-9 October, is on Friday (10 July). Click here for further details.
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