Abakaliki
The serene campus of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, was transformed into a hub of high-level discourse this week as it hosted the 2025 International Law Conference with the theme: “Nigeria’s Legal System and the Challenges of Navigating the Frontiers of Global Justice in the Digital Era of Artificial Intelligence.”
Held from July 23 to 25, the conference brought together legal luminaries, AI governance experts, jurists, academics, and policymakers from Nigeria and abroad. With rising global anxieties about artificial intelligence, data control, and cyber governance, the event provided a timely platform for Nigeria to stake a bold intellectual claim in the emerging digital legal order.
The Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, was represented at the event by Dr. Ben Uruchi Odoh, Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ebonyi State. In a sweeping and incisive opening address titled “Digital Sovereignty and the Law: AI, Data, and Cyber Governance,” the Governor offered both a sobering diagnosis of current threats and an inspiring roadmap for Nigeria's role in shaping the future.
“The very notion of national sovereignty, traditionally tied to physical borders, must now extend into the borderless and interconnected realm of cyberspace,” he stated. “Our approach must be unique—fit for Africa’s purpose—prioritizing our needs while embracing global cooperation.”
Using real-world incidents such as recent cyberattacks on Nigerian banks, Governor Nwifuru underscored the urgency of reforming legal frameworks and embracing multilateral strategies to fight transnational cybercrime. He called for a Nigerian legal architecture that balances digital innovation with civil liberties, national interest with global integration, and sovereignty with collaboration.
The three-day gathering dissected a broad array of pressing legal and ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies. In the keynote address, Hon. Justice Festus Obande Ogbuinya, JSC, CON, painted a picture of a legal landscape struggling to keep pace with disruptive innovations. He challenged lawmakers and jurists to “rewrite the rules of engagement” and build new institutions capable of regulating AI and data flows.
Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, ably represented by Barrister Marcus‑Obiene Fernández, Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Justice Sector Reforms (and ICT/Digital & Innovative Technology), highlighted federal efforts toward enacting a national AI policy and strengthening the legal framework for data protection.
The following core areas dominated panel discussions and working sessions:
Digital Sovereignty and Data Governance: Experts analyzed Nigeria’s current regulatory limitations and the threats of “digital colonialism” through unchecked foreign tech influence. Comparisons were drawn between the EU’s GDPR, China’s state-centric model, and Africa’s evolving data sovereignty policies.
AI and the Administration of Justice: Legal technologists presented insights on predictive analytics in case management, AI-assisted legal research, and the ethical hazards of algorithmic bias in judicial decision-making.
Cybersecurity and International Cooperation: A key concern was the weak cross-border enforcement of cybercrime laws. Participants advocated for a harmonized African cybersecurity treaty and stronger alliances with international law enforcement agencies.
Legal Education and the Future of the Profession: With AI now capable of generating contracts and interpreting statutes, panelists from the University of Portsmouth and AE-FUNAI called for an overhaul of Nigeria’s legal education to incorporate coding, AI ethics, and legal tech innovation.
Notable speakers included Prof. Eseni Azu Udu, Dean, Faculty of Law, AE-FUNAI; Dr. Uchenna Nnawuchi, AI governance expert from the University of Middlesex, United Kingdom; Professor Nnamdi Obiaraeri; Chief Roy Umahi, SAN; and Fidelis Mbadiugha, SAN. Their sessions underscored the need for rights-based legal frameworks that protect vulnerable populations from digital exclusion and algorithmic abuse.
Other AI governance scholars and policy experts contributed to a cross-continental dialogue that fused legal theory with practical solutions. An emphasis was placed on multi-stakeholder collaboration among governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
As the conference drew to a close, the mood was one of cautious optimism. In Governor Nwifuru’s words, echoed repeatedly throughout the event, Nigeria must now act as a “navigator charting a course through uncharted waters,” using the compass of justice and innovation to build digital bridges rather than barriers.
The AE-FUNAI International Law Conference 2025 will be remembered not only as a meeting of minds but as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s journey toward digital legal sovereignty. If its recommendations are taken seriously, this conference may well become a blueprint for transforming Nigeria’s legal system in the face of technological revolution.
By Igwe Eze Chikodiri is the Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice & Research Assistant to Hon. Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Ebonyi State
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