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  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">BJCR</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title xml:lang="en">British Journal of Contemporary Research</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title xml:lang="en">BJCR</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn>2979-8582</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Bexford Publishing Ltd</publisher-name>
        <publisher-loc><uri>https://bexfordpublishing.co.uk</uri></publisher-loc>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">BEX_AUG_26_203</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.67693/BJCR-3KP7SXN7</article-id>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group xml:lang="en" subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Original Research Article</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title xml:lang="en">Digital Justice And Civil Procedure Reform In Nigeria: A Critical Analysis Of Electronic Filing And Service Under The Taraba State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2026</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group content-type="author">
      <contrib corresp="yes">
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Titus Dio-Lukas</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>titus.diomister@gmail.com</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>LLM Student, Public Law Department, Redeemer&#039;s University Nigeria (RUN) Eden, Osun State, Nigeria</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      <contrib>
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Dr. A. J. Fetinhense</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>fatehinsea@run.edu.ng</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>Redeemer&#039;s University Nigeria (RUN) Ede, Osun State Nigeria</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <pub-date date-type="pub" publication-format="epub">
        <day>10</day>
        <month>09</month>
        <year>2026</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>1</volume>
      <issue>4</issue>
      
      
      <pub-history>
        <event event-type="received">
          <event-desc>Received: <date date-type="received">
            <day>28</day>
            <month>08</month>
            <year>2026</year>
          </date></event-desc>
        </event>
        
        <event event-type="accepted">
          <event-desc>Accepted: <date date-type="accepted">
            <day>01</day>
            <month>09</month>
            <year>2026</year>
          </date></event-desc>
        </event>
      </pub-history>
      <permissions>
        <copyright-statement>Copyright (c) 2026 Titus Dio-Lukas</copyright-statement>
        <copyright-year>2026</copyright-year>
        <license xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">
          <license-p>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <abstract><p>ABSTRACT
The administration of civil justice in Nigeria has historically relied on paper-based filing systems, physical service of court processes, and in-person court proceedings. While these traditional mechanisms have ensured procedural certainty, they have also contributed to delays, high litigation costs, congestion in court registries, and barriers to access to justice. The emergence of digital technologies and the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated demands for judicial modernization across Nigerian courts. The Taraba State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2026 represent a significant innovation in this regard by introducing mandatory electronic filing through the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS), electronic service of court processes, electronic proof of service, virtual court sittings, and other digital justice mechanisms. This article critically examines the legal, procedural, and constitutional implications of these innovations. Employing doctrinal and comparative legal methodologies, the study analyses the provisions of the Taraba State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2026 in light of constitutional guarantees of fair hearing, access to justice, due process, and judicial efficiency. The article argues that while digitalization promises faster and more efficient dispute resolution, significant concerns remain regarding digital exclusion, cyber-security risks, evidentiary challenges, infrastructure deficits, and the constitutional validity of certain forms of electronic service. The article further compares the Taraba model with developments in Lagos State, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, England and Wales, Kenya, and South Africa. It concludes that the Taraba reforms represent a progressive step towards a modern judiciary but require robust technological infrastructure, legislative harmonization, judicial training, and procedural safeguards to achieve sustainable digital justice. The article proposes a framework for balancing efficiency with procedural fairness in Nigeria&#039;s evolving e-justice ecosystem.
Keywords: Digital Justice, E-Filing, Electronic Service, Virtual Courts, Civil Procedure, Access to Justice, Taraba State, Judicial Reform.</p></abstract>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
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