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 case management systems. These
measures would strengthen evidence reliability, enhance inter-agency coordination and align
Nigerian criminal justice operations with technological practices observed in advanced
jurisdictions.