In a groundbreaking move to modernise legal disciplinary proceedings, the Body of Benchers, Nigeria’s apex legal regulatory body, has introduced Q-Soft Denovo – Africa’s first indigenous court recording and transcription system. This innovation, spearheaded by the visionary leadership of Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, marks a new era of efficiency and transparency in the legal profession.
As the highest decision-making body in Nigeria’s justice sector, the Body of Benchers plays a crucial role in upholding ethical and professional standards within the legal profession. Its responsibilities include the formal call to the Bar and the discipline of erring Lawyers. The launch of Q-Soft Denovo, underscores its commitment to leveraging technology for judicial excellence.
The unveiling event brought together distinguished legal luminaries, including Chief Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN; Funke Adekoya, SAN; M.A. Abubakar, SAN; Funmi Quadri, SAN; and the Chairman of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), Hon. Justice Dr Ishaq Bello, OFR. Also in attendance were LPDC members, who oversee disciplinary cases against legal practitioners under the Legal Practitioners Act.
Speaking on the efficiency of Q-Soft Denovo, Hon. Justice Dr Ishaq Bello, remarked: “We have tested it, and we no longer worry about extensive manual recordings because it works perfectly”.
The LPDC, tasked with investigating and determining cases of professional misconduct, now benefits from automated, real-time recording and transcription, ensuring greater accuracy, transparency, and efficiency in disciplinary proceedings. By eliminating the delays and inaccuracies of manual documentation, Q-Soft Denovo significantly enhances the delivery of justice.This technological advancement has already yielded remarkable results. Judges utilising the system have reported a threefold increase in productivity, with one Judge delivering 110 judgements in a single quarter – far exceeding the National Judicial Council’s benchmark of 24 judgements per quarter. Such efficiency is a testament to the transformative power of this innovation.
The Body of Benchers, under the leadership of the immediate past Chairman, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, deserves commendation for championing this milestone. By embracing digital solutions, the institution sets a precedent for judicial modernisation across Africa, reaffirming its commitment to fostering a more transparent, accountable, and efficient legal system.
