Court Records Management, Administration of Justice and Good Governance in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the effects of court records management on the effective administration of justice; identifies the challenges inhibiting effective court records management; and analyzes the connections between court records management, the administration of justice, and good governance in Nigeria. The research relies on both primary and secondary data. Primary data involves conducting interviews with selected respondents responsible for records, who provided insights on the effects of court records management on the effective administration of justice. Information about the challenges hindering effective court records management and the connections among court records management, administration of justice, and good governance in Nigeria were acquired from secondary sources, including academic journals, textbooks, government documents, and online resources. The collected data underwent content analysis. The findings indicate that judicial records include case files, casebooks, record books, and court registers; that courts maintain different types of documents, including historical, rhetorical, and phonological records; and that the management of these records significantly impacts the adjudication of judicial cases. Identified challenges include inadequate record-keeping practices, non-standardized record-keeping procedures, insufficient training for records keepers, lack of adequate record storage facilities, brain drain challenges, inefficient technology, and insecurity. Regarding the relationships among court records management, administration of justice, and good governance, the study demonstrates that proper record keeping fosters effective administration of justice, fair hearings, and timely resolution of cases; conversely, timely administration of justice enhances good governance. The study concludes that court records management, administration of justice, and good governance are symbiotically related, as effective records management facilitates the administration of justice, which in turn promotes good governance.