The Katsina State Judiciary has organised a Capacity Building Workshop for Magistrates on ICT with focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and New Media, aimed at strengthening judicial competence in the digital era.
Chief Judge of Katsina State, Hon. Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar
Declaring the workshop open, the Chief Judge of Katsina State, Hon. Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar, said the judiciary must continuously adapt to the realities of new media, as courts increasingly handle matters arising from social media activities, online publications, and digitally generated evidence.
Justice Abubakar noted that while new media has enhanced access to information and public engagement, it has also introduced challenges such as misinformation, cybercrime, reputational harm, and abuse of digital platforms. He stressed the need for judicial officers to understand the workings of new media in order to adjudicate fairly and responsibly.
Chief Registrar of the Katsina State Judiciary, Dr. Basira Umar
Earlier, the Chief Registrar of the Katsina State Judiciary, Dr. Basira Umar, in her address, described the workshop as timely, given the growing impact of ICT, Artificial Intelligence, and New Media on governance and the justice system. She urged Magistrates to maximise the opportunity provided by the training.
Malam Ahmed Abdulkadir
In his opening remarks, Malam Ahmed Abdulkadir, speaking on behalf of Matasa Media Links, said technological advancement—particularly in Artificial Intelligence and social media—has become an irreversible part of modern life. Abdulkadir, who is also the Board Chairman of Katsina State Radio and Television Services and Managing Director of Fasaha Stream online newspaper, observed that Magistrate Courts are increasingly confronted with cases involving online defamation, cyberstalking, impersonation, digital fraud, and manipulated audio-visual content.
The workshop featured two technical sessions facilitated by seasoned experts.
Professor Mainasara Kurfi
In the first technical session, Professor Mainasara Kurfi of Bayero University, Kano, presented a paper titled “Judiciary in the Age of Social Media: Handles, Functions and Best Practices for Katsina State Magistrates.” He examined how social media platforms operate, the responsibilities of judicial officers online, appropriate use of official and personal accounts, and best practices for maintaining judicial integrity, confidentiality, and public trust in the digital space.
The second technical session was delivered by Engineer Abbas Abdullahi, who presented a paper on Artificial Intelligence. He introduced participants to key AI concepts, emerging trends, and associated risks such as deepfakes, voice cloning, and AI-assisted impersonation, emphasising the need for caution and expert support in assessing digital evidence.
The workshop concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants, followed by closing prayers.
Participants expressed optimism that the training would enhance their professional effectiveness and contribute to improved justice delivery in Katsina State.
