Lawyers warn against unregulated AI usage
Legal experts at the Lex Ferenda Conference 2026 in Lagos warned against unregulated AI use in law, citing risks like deepfakes, plagiarism, and misinformation, while acknowledging AI’s potential to improve research and accessibility. Speakers emphasized the need for regulation and human oversight, as AI cannot legally replace licensed practitioners under Nigeria’s Legal Practitioners Act.
Legal practitioners in Nigeria have raised concerns about the unregulated use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in legal practice, warning of risks such as deepfakes, plagiarism, and ethical breaches. At the Lex Ferenda Conference 2026, held at the University of Lagos on Wednesday, experts discussed the theme *The Future of Legal Scholarship in the Digital Age*, organized by the Lawrit Journal of Law and the Justice Oputa Student Chambers. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Oyetola Atoyebi, delivering the keynote address, acknowledged AI’s role in modern legal practice but stressed the need for caution. He noted that while AI could enhance legal research and service delivery, existing laws already provide safeguards for digital practices. Atoyebi warned that deepfakes, plagiarism, and misinformation posed significant risks, urging practitioners to adhere to legislative guidelines. Olumide Osundolire, a Partner at Banwo & Ighodalo, highlighted AI’s transformative impact on legal scholarship, breaking geographical barriers and reducing research time. He stated that digital tools now allow Nigerian scholars to contribute globally, with tasks that once took months now completed in days. Daniel Igiekhumhe, a Senior Associate at Babalakin & Co, emphasized the need for regulation to prevent misconceptions that AI could replace lawyers entirely. He noted increased overlap between AI and legal practice but stressed the importance of oversight to maintain professional standards. Joshua Abe, Partner and Co-Founder of Abe & Asote Law Firm, described AI as useful but unreliable without human verification. He cited Section 4 of the Legal Practitioners Act, which restricts legal services to licensed practitioners, reinforcing that AI cannot legally replace lawyers under current laws. The conference aimed to bridge gaps between legal theory and digital-age realities, fostering responsible AI integration in the legal profession.
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