By Fola Ademosu
The call has come for the Nigerian judiciary to revolutionise notarial practices by embracing a digital technology that offers faster delivery, convenience, confidentiality, and swift authentication of legal documents.
Lawyer and legal innovator, Muyiwa Ayojimi stated this in his speech to the Notary and Technology session of the 2022 Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual Conference, held at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Ayojimi, who is the honorary secretary, Society for Notaries Public of Nigeria, stated that the Covid-19 pandemic had showed that reduced or no in-person contact poses no barrier to legal and businesses activities from taking place. He further said that globalisation, cybercrime, and consumer’s desire for ease and speed in fulfilling their needs makes it more compelling for notaries and the judicial sector, at large, to embrace the technology. Ayojimi mentioned some of the innovations that would enhance notarial practices as the “digital signature, blockchain verification, and secure online notarization platforms.”
He said, “Digital or online notarization allows notaries to perform their duties electronically, using digital signatures and secure verification technologies to confirm identity, consent, and authenticity.”
Ayojimi explained, “Biometrics or digital IDs would be used to verify signers remotely for Secure Identity Verification, while the “Electronic Signatures and Seals serve as equivalents of legally recognized handwritten signatures and embossed seals.”
He further said, “The Blockchain Integration functions as immutable recordkeeping, ensuring auditability and prevents tampering.” “The other is the Encrypted Communication Channels, which serves to protect sensitive information and ensuring data privacy.”
Ayojimi charged the authorities to take steps towards ensuring that digitised notarization from Nigeria is acceptable and enforceable globally.
“It is worth mentioning that the Society for Notaries Public is already engaging with the judiciary and other stakeholders on how to develop pilot frameworks for online notarization that align with international best practices while respecting Nigeria’s legal traditions,” he said.
He explained that the technology is not a disruptor but a catalyst for modernising the outdated mode of notarisation and regulations governing the practice.
“The technology offers many advantages, including reducing fraud and forgery, which is easily detected through secure digital trails; ensuring tidier record management and faster retrieval, and it also supports e-governance and cross-border trade documentation. It also supports government initiatives at boosting diaspora investments in the country as they are able to notarize and trust business and legal documents from their foreign bases,” Ayojimi said.
He therefore advised that, for effective adoption of the technology, the Nigerian government must initiate necessary policy and legal framework that validates and make electronic notarial acts evidentiary. He also said the same is required to protect data and ensure enhanced cybersecurity.
Furthermore, he stated that integrating notarial databases into the National Identity Management systems and in judicial systems of records would enhance trust and authentication. The SNPN’s secretary adds that legal professionals would easily adapt to the new technology and improve their digital competences through regular training.
*Fola Ademosu is a journalist with over a decade experience and covers the general beat
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