Prominent jurists and retired judges have cautioned lawyers and judicial officers against excessive reliance on artificial intelligence, warning that unchecked use of the technology could undermine the administration of justice and weaken the rule of law.

The jurists spoke on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the launch of a book titled AI, Justice and the Rule of Law: The Denton-West Principles for AI Governance, Digital Sovereignty and Constitutional Democracy, published in honour of retired Court of Appeal Justice Sotonye Denton-West.

The speakers acknowledged the growing importance of AI in the legal profession but stressed that its use must be carefully regulated and balanced with human judgment.

They warned that relying excessively on AI for legal research, case filing, drafting and judgment writing could create serious risks, including inaccurate information, loss of human judgment and possible miscarriages of justice.

Leading the discussion, Denton-West said AI could not replicate the human emotions and judgment required in the administration of justice.

She urged judges and legal practitioners to approach the technology cautiously rather than accepting its outputs without proper evaluation.

“We should be careful to balance things and always remember that we have human nature within us; the essence of God is in us. If we are adopting AI, we should adopt it with care and a bit of balance because nothing is ever perfect,” she said.

The retired judge noted that AI had now become increasingly relevant to the judiciary and warned that careless adoption could have serious consequences.

“Now it has come to the judiciary where I belong, and I felt that if judges accept this as it comes without evaluating or being careful, it could lead to a lot of miscarriages of justice,” Denton-West added.

Also speaking, the reviewer of the book and retired Justice of the Rivers State High Court, Adolphus Enebeli, said the rapid development of AI required appropriate safeguards to prevent its misuse.

While acknowledging that AI was now an established part of modern society, Enebeli advised lawyers and judges to verify information generated by AI platforms before relying on it in legal proceedings.

He stressed that lawyers remained responsible for whatever information or material they submitted to the court, regardless of whether it had been generated with the assistance of AI.

“The rule, in my mind, is that once data is generated, you must verify that you made the appropriate input or that it gives an accurate answer to your query.

“It is for the lawyer to verify because whatever you submit, you are accountable for it. That is why we are emphasizing these points,” he said.

Representing the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, Justice Tamunoigoni Oji said judges in the state had already begun discussing the implications of AI for the judiciary.

Oji said the technology should serve the judiciary rather than replace human reasoning and judicial responsibility.

“AI is built for us, not us for AI, so there must be a balance in how we use it,” she said.

She expressed hope that the book would provide practical recommendations on how AI could be integrated into the judicial system without compromising the quality and originality of judicial decisions.

Oji warned that the convenience offered by AI could tempt judicial officers to depend on it excessively, particularly when faced with tight deadlines.

She said, “If I am in a hurry and I have a judgment tomorrow without having written anything, all I do is prompt AI and it gives me a response. But it can never be original.

“So, no matter how good AI is, it can never take the place of human intellect.”

The author of the book, Obele Akinniranye, said the publication was written to celebrate Denton-West’s contributions to Nigeria’s legal development while contributing to the growing debate on artificial intelligence, justice and constitutional governance.

Akinniranye called on the Federal Government to develop comprehensive policies and legal frameworks to guide the responsible integration of AI into Nigeria’s judicial sector.

She said the growing influence of artificial intelligence made it necessary to establish safeguards that would ensure technological innovation remained subject to legal accountability.

“As AI becomes increasingly influential, there is an urgent need for legal frameworks capable of ensuring that technology remains accountable to the law and that innovation remains consistent with justice.

“This book seeks to contribute to that important conversation,” she said.

The concerns raised at the book launch come amid the growing adoption of AI tools across professional sectors, including legal research and document preparation.

The speakers, however, emphasised that technological assistance should complement rather than replace the independent reasoning and accountability expected of legal practitioners and judicial officers.

An Anambra State High Court sitting in the state has sentenced a popular native doctor, Ekene Igboekweze, popularly known as “Eke Hit,” to six years in prison for offences linked to the advertisement of wealth charms and the preparation of charms for criminals.

Justice Jude Obiorah, who presided over the case on Friday, found Igboekweze guilty on two counts bordering on the advertisement of charms purportedly capable of making people wealthy through “Oke Ite” and other rituals, as well as preparing charms for criminals.

The judge sentenced the defendant to six years’ imprisonment on each of the two counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.

The court also ruled that there would be no option of a fine, while the period Igboekweze had already spent in detention would be taken into consideration in determining the duration of his imprisonment.

Justice Obiorah, however, discharged the defendant on the third count after resolving the charge in his favour.

“The prosecution proved counts one and two beyond reasonable doubt, but count three is resolved in favour of the defendant,” the judge said while delivering judgment.

“The defendant is hereby found guilty on counts one and two of offences bordering on advertising charms for wealth, claiming to make people rich through ‘Oke Ite’ and other rituals, and preparing charms for criminals, among others.

“He is hereby sentenced to six years’ imprisonment on each count.

The sentences shall run concurrently without an option of a fine, with the period spent in detention taken into consideration.”

Arrest Under Anambra Homeland Security Law
Igboekweze, who hails from Umuofor Village in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, was arrested by Agunechemba security personnel in February 2025.

His arrest followed the signing of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025 by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

The native doctor had gained considerable attention on social media for videos and advertisements promoting charms associated with wealth and other traditional practices.

He was arrested alongside two other popular native doctors over alleged violations of provisions of the new security law.

Among other things, the law prohibits native doctors from claiming to make people rich through “Oke Ite” and other rituals, as well as preparing charms for criminals.

Igboekweze and the other defendants were subsequently arraigned before the court on April 4, 2025.

The charges against them included conspiracy, kidnapping, preparation of protective charms for criminals and money rituals.

Defendant Denies Criminal Practices
During his defence, Igboekweze described himself as a registered herbalist and a member of the Odinani Okija Traditional Association.

He told the court that his practice involved the use of herbs and roots, maintaining that he was not involved in criminal activities.

The defendant also argued that the viral videos that formed part of the basis for his arrest were old and had been created before the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025 came into effect.

Despite his defence, the court held that the prosecution had established the elements of the first and second counts beyond reasonable doubt.

Native Doctor Pleads for Mercy
Before the sentence was handed down, Igboekweze pleaded with the court for forgiveness and mercy.

He told the court that he had learnt his lessons and appealed to Justice Obiorah to consider the effect of the sentence on his family.

The convict particularly appealed for consideration because of his newborn triplets, whom he said he had not yet had the opportunity to see.

His plea was supported by members of his family who testified to his character and asked the court to temper justice with mercy.

One of his two wives, Elizabeth, and his half-brother, Chief Mike, described him as a kind person who was good to people around him.

Chief Mike also told the court that Igboekweze was the only son of his mother in a polygamous family.

Lawyer Reacts to Judgment
Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, counsel to the convict, Chief Emmanuel Egbunonu, said the court had shown consideration by waiving the ₦40 million fine attached to the two charges.

He noted that the court took into account the circumstances of the case while imposing the custodial sentence.

Also reacting, Fabian Okeke of the Anambra State Ministry of Justice said the judgment was aimed at protecting society from practices that could undermine human creativity and discourage people from engaging in meaningful ventures.

The case forms part of the Anambra State Government’s wider enforcement of its homeland security legislation, particularly provisions targeting practices authorities consider harmful to public safety and social development.

The Delta State House of Assembly has passed an executive bill seeking to institutionalise the payment of a 13th-month salary to public servants in the state.

The bill, which was passed during Tuesday’s plenary, is expected to provide statutory backing for the annual payment of the additional salary and give public servants greater certainty over the welfare package.

The Assembly described the development as a major milestone in workers’ welfare, noting that the legislation would strengthen the state government’s commitment to improving the wellbeing of its workforce.

The passage followed the third reading of the bill during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor.

Before consideration of the bill, the House suspended the relevant standing orders to enable its immediate passage.

The motion for the suspension was moved by the Leader of the House, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, and was subsequently adopted by members.

Speaking shortly after the passage, Guwor commended lawmakers for what he described as a bold step towards strengthening workers’ welfare in Delta State.

He said the Assembly had once again demonstrated that the primary purpose of government was the security and welfare of the people.

According to him, the legislation reflected the state government’s commitment to the wellbeing of public servants and further reinforced the administration’s worker-friendly policies.

“The passage of the bill further affirmed the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as a welfare-oriented and worker-friendly government.

“The payment of the 13th-month salary to public servants in Delta State has come to stay,” the Speaker said.

Guwor expressed confidence that the policy would improve workers’ morale, increase productivity and contribute to better service delivery across the state.

He also commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for initiating the welfare policy, describing it as a significant gesture in recognition of the contributions of public servants to the development of Delta State.

Earlier, while presenting the report of the House Committee on Establishment, Ethics and Privileges, the committee chairman, Hon.

Edafe Emakpo, explained that the proposed law was designed to establish a legal framework for the policy.

He said institutionalising the payment would provide public servants with greater assurance and certainty while contributing to improved morale, productivity and overall wellbeing.

The legislation is therefore expected to give stronger institutional backing to the annual payment of the additional salary, enhance the welfare package available to workers and encourage greater commitment to public service delivery.

The development comes as state governments across Nigeria continue to introduce measures aimed at improving the welfare and productivity of public servants amid rising economic pressures.

With the passage of the bill, the 13th-month salary policy in Delta State is set to move from an executive welfare initiative to a legally backed policy, subject to the remaining legislative and constitutional requirements before it becomes operational as law.