Digitization and admissibility of digital records in Nigerian courts: strategies and lessons for the LIS profession

Abstract

The global impetus and preference for automation of records management systems arising from propensity for greater efficiency and preservation imperatives has sustained the digitization of records from creation, retention, archival to disposal. The paper examined the admissibility of digital records as evidence in Nigerian courts. It noted that the Nigerian Evidence Act has not been reviewed for over sixty years hence it 1s large/} deficient m accommodating technological developments compared to its counterparts m advanced nat10ns. The requisite laws place highest premium on primary evidence as exemplified by original documents and regard digital records as surrogate and secondary evidence hence not admissible The courts can only be persuaded to recognize third party authenticated versions. It is recommended inter alia that records of legal value should be notarized before digitization.

regard digital records as surrogate and secondary evidence hence not admissible The courts can only be persuaded to recognize third party authenticated versions. It is recommended inter alia that records of legal value should be notarized before digitization.