ABSTRACT
This study focused on online court records processing system using Magistrate court, Ikot Ekpene as a case study. An online court records processing system is an automated system that aids in the capturing of court case information for processing, easy storage and retrieval. In a court, there is a routine of maintaining record of cases handled by it. The problem of manual system of court proceedings is that needed information cannot be easily retrieved when needed. To solve this problem, an automated court case record management system is needed. An automated court case record system is an E-filing system of court cases, and it offers increased clerk efficiency, immediate response to judges’ requests, timely access to information and potential storage savings. The software development methodology used is object oriented and analysis model while the programming language used is hypertext pre-processor (pHp) and the database used is MySql.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover Page
Title Page – – – – – – – – i
Certification – – – – – – – – – ii
Approval Page – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgments – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – – – vi
Table of Contents – – – – – – – – vii-ix
List of Figures – – – – – – – – x
List of Tables – – – – – – – – xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction – – – – – – – 1
1.1 Background of the Study – – – – – – 1-2
1.2 Statement of Problem – – – – – 2
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study – – – 2
1.4 Significance of the Study – – – – – – 2-3
1.5 Scope of the Study – – – – – – – 3
1.6 Organization of the Research – – – – – 3-4
1.7 Definition of Terms – – – – – – 4
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 5
2.1 Theoretical Background – – – – – – 5-9
2.2 The Concept of Courts – – – – – – 10
2.3 Computer-based Record Processing – – – – 10-11
2.4 Conventional Method of Justice Delivery in Nigerian Courts 12-13
2.5 Constraints of Conventional Method of Justice Delivery
in Nigeria – – – – – – – – 13-15
2.6 Overview of Online System for Court Management – 15-17
2.7 Benefits of Online System for Courts – – – – 17-18
2.8 Constraints of Online System – – – – – 18-20
CHAPTER THREE: ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
3.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 21
3.1 Research Methodology – – – – – 21
3.2 Analysis of the Existing System – – – – 21-22
3.2.1 Advantages of the Existing System – – – – 22
3.2.2 Disadvantages of the Existing System- — – – 22
3.3 Analysis of the Proposed System – – – – 22-23
3.3.1 Advantages of the Proposed System — – – 23
3.4 System Design – – – – – – – 23
3.4.1 Input Layout – – – – – – – 24-25
3.4.2 Output Layout – – – – – – – 26
3.4.3 Algorithm – – – – – – – – 27
3.4.4 Flowchart – – – – – – – – 28-32
3.4.5 Database Design – – – – – – – 33
3.4.6 System Architecture – – – – – – 34
3.4.7 Use Case/Class Diagram – – – – – – 34-36
CHAPTER FOUR: IMPLEMENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION
4.0 Introduction – – – – – – – 22
4.1 System Design Diagram – – – – – – 22
4.2 Choice of Programming Language – – – 22
4.3 Analysis of Modules – – – – – 37-38
4.4 Programming Environment – – – – – 38
4.4.1 Hardware Requirements – – – – – – 38
4.4.2 Software Requirements – – – – – – 38-38
4.5 System Implementation – – – – – 39-40
4.6 Software Testing – – – – – – – 40
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
5.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 41
5.1 Constraints of the Study – – – – – – 41
5.2 Summary – – – – – – 41
5.3 Conclusion – – – – – – 42
5.4 Recommendation – – – – – – 42
References – – – – – – 43-44
Appendix A- Source Code Listing- – – – – 45-56
Appendix B – Sample Output – – – – – 57-60
LIST OF TABLES
Page Number
Table 3.1: Case Registration Output layout – – – 26
Table 3.3: Database Design – – – – – 33
LIST OF FIGURES
Fig. 1: Login page – – – – – – 9
Fig. 3.1: Case Registration Input Layout – – – 24
Fig. 3.2: Case Registration Update Input Layout – – 25
Fig. 3.3: Login Flowchart – – – – – 28
Fig. 3.4: Main Menu Flowchart – – – – – 29
Fig. 3.5: Case Registration Flowchart – – – – 30
Fig. 3.6: Case Update/Verification – – – – 31
Fig. 3.7: Database Records – – – – – 32
Fig. 3.8: System Architecture – – – – – 31
Fig. 3.9: Use case Diagram – – – – – 30
Figure 3.10: Class Diagram – – – — – 31
Figure 4.1: System Design Diagram – – – – 32
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction
This chapter presents the introduction to online courts record processing. It presents the following: introduction, background of the study, statement of the problem, aim and objectives of the study, significance of the study, scope of the study, organization of the research and definition of terms.
1.1 Background of the Study
For effective administration of court cases, there is need for the implementation of an online courts processing system. The increasing nature and advancement of information and communication technology (ICT) due to technological innovations unfolds a new opportunity to significantly improve justice delivery, thereby proffering solutions to the nagging issue of delay in justice delivery in the Nigerian courts which is associated with the conventional method. Undoubtedly, the use of ICT will enhance rapidity, accessibility, accountability and transparency, with the resultant effect of helping the judiciary to provide adequate and quality services (Sela, 2016).
The availability of web services, the possibility of consulting on-line legislation and case law, the use of electronic filing, the electronic exchange of legal documents, are only some examples that are spurring the judicial administration around the world to rethink their current functions and activities. ICT can be used to enhance efficiency, access, timeliness, transparency and accountability, helping the judiciary to provide adequate services. New possibilities are emerging for the integration and automation of court procedures and practices. In addition, the use of the internet can offer the chance to open the judiciary to the public, providing both general and specific information on its activities, thereby also increasing its legitimacy Asonibare and Akaje (2019).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The following problems necessitated this study, and they are:
- The manual way of processing and recording court cases is associated with a lot of problems.
- Lack of responsibility for cases.
- Poor communication among the criminal justice institutions
- The lack of reliable central case recording system
- The prolonged delay of cases generally. The length of time awaiting trial persons stay in prison is too lengthy thereby leading to congestion of prisons. There is high level of delay in administration of justice.
These problems are present as the result of the absence of an efficient system to manage court cases.
