The Katsina State Judiciary on Tuesday organised a specialised capacity-building workshop for magistrates aimed at strengthening the justice system in the digital age.
The workshop, themed “Capacity Building on ICT with Focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and New Media,” was held at the Katsina State High Court complex. It was organised by the Katsina State Government in collaboration with Matasa Media Links, publishers of Katsina Times and Katsina City News magazine.
In his opening remarks, delivered virtually, the Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar, said technology has become an essential part of modern life and can no longer be separated from contemporary judicial practice. He noted that ICT now plays a key role in speeding up justice delivery, enhancing transparency and improving court administration.
Justice Abubakar explained that while courts previously relied heavily on manual records, technology now supports case management, data storage and communication, making justice more accessible to the public.
Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Ahmed Abdulkadir, a Director at Matasa Media Links, said the training was designed to deepen magistrates’ understanding of the impact of AI and new media on the justice system. He stressed that AI and digital media raise critical issues relating to evidence, authenticity, privacy and accountability before the courts.
The workshop featured expert presentations, including a paper by Professor Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi of Bayero University, Kano, who spoke on judicial conduct in the age of social media and best practices for magistrates.
Earlier, the Chief Registrar of the Katsina State High Court, Hajiya Basira, described the workshop as timely and commended magistrates for their commitment to continuous learning.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the training, noting that it would better equip them to handle technology-related cases and emerging legal challenges in the digital era.
