Techno-Convergence and Evidentiary Contemporaneity: Comparative Analysis of Application in Advanced Jurisdictions and Nigerian Criminal Justice System

Abstract

The research assessed technological adoption and evidentiary reform in the Nigerian criminal justice system, comparing practices with the United States, United Kingdom and India. The study employed doctrinal and comparative analysis, reviewing statutory instruments, judicial decisions and institutional operations across the Nigeria Police Force, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Nigerian Correctional Service and the Judiciary. The Evidence Act 2011, Evidence (Amendment) Act 2023 and key court rulings on electronic records, computer-generated documents, digital signatures and audiovisual affidavits were analyzed to assess the regulatory framework for digital evidence. Data revealed extensive deployment of CCTV, drone surveillance, social media intelligence, biometric systems, corrections information management platforms and digital courtroom presentation technologies, yet procedural inconsistencies, limited forensic infrastructure and fragmented data coordination persisted. Comparative review indicated that the U.S. applied CODIS, body-worn cameras, predictive policing software and virtual case management under federal and state frameworks; the U.K. employed automated facial recognition, blockchain-secured judicial records and predictive analytics tools in compliance with PACE 1984 and the Arbitration Act 1996; India implemented e-Courts, Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks, biometric identification, Section 65B-compliant digital evidence certification and geospatial crime mapping. Findings highlighted that Nigerian adoption lagged in standardization, certification procedures and integration of predictive and virtual technologies. The study recommended mandatory certification of electronic evidence, unified judicial directions for digital exhibits, establishment of centralized biometric and forensic databases, adoption of secure cloud-based evidence management and implementation of digital

Keywords

References