Enabling the Nigerian Evidence Act 2023
How Confirmd Platform creates court-ready verifiable credentials that comply with Nigerian law
Introduction
The Nigerian Evidence Act 2023 modernized the country's legal framework to accommodate electronic evidence in court proceedings. Confirmd Platform creates legally sound digital credentials that fully comply with the Act's requirements, providing courts with authentication, integrity verification, and non-repudiation guarantees.
Our cryptographically signed verifiable credentials meet all statutory requirements for electronic evidence admissibility, offering stronger proof of authenticity than traditional paper documents while maintaining complete audit trails required under Nigerian law.
Key Provisions of the Evidence Act 2023
Admissibility of Electronic Evidence
The Law States:
"In any proceedings, a statement contained in a document produced by a computer shall be admissible as evidence of any fact stated therein of which direct oral evidence would be admissible, if it is shown that the conditions in subsection (2) are satisfied in relation to the statement and computer in question."
How Confirmd Platform Complies:
Verifiable credentials are computer-generated electronic documents containing cryptographically verifiable statements. Each credential issued through Confirmd Platform satisfies the admissibility requirements as it contains statements of fact (identity attributes, qualifications, licenses) that would be admissible through direct oral evidence. The platform ensures all subsection (2) conditions are met through proper system operation, regular data maintenance, and secure custody protocols.
Practical Application:
- •A digital degree certificate issued by a university can be presented in court during employment disputes
- •A digital driver's license can serve as evidence in traffic court proceedings
- •Professional licenses can be verified in malpractice cases without physical documents
Authentication of Electronic Records
The Law States:
"The authentication of an electronic record or electronic signature may be proved by showing that a digital signature, as defined in subsection (2), has been affixed to such electronic record or electronic signature with the intention of authenticating the same."
How Confirmd Platform Complies:
Every credential issued through Confirmd Platform includes cryptographic digital signatures that prove authenticity and issuer identity. The platform uses public-key cryptography to create unforgeable signatures that bind the issuer's digital identity (DID) to the credential content. Courts can independently verify these signatures to confirm the credential was genuinely issued by the claimed organization and has not been tampered with.
Legal Advantages:
- ✓Non-repudiation: Issuers cannot deny having issued a credential due to cryptographic proof
- ✓Forgery prevention: Recipients cannot claim credentials were forged when signatures are invalid
- ✓Independent verification: Courts can verify authenticity without contacting the issuer
Presumption as to Integrity of Electronic Records
The Law States:
"In any proceedings involving a secure electronic record, there shall be a presumption that the secure electronic record has not been altered since the specific point in time to which the secure status relates."
How Confirmd Platform Complies:
Confirmd Platform issues verifiable credentials with cryptographic hashes that are anchored to blockchain ledgers. Any alteration to the credential content would change the hash value, making tampering immediately detectable. This creates a "secure electronic record" under Section 85, entitling credentials to a legal presumption of integrity.
The cryptographic binding ensures that if a credential verifies successfully, Nigerian courts can presume it has not been altered since issuance—shifting the burden of proof to anyone claiming the record was tampered with.
Admissibility of Computer-Generated Evidence
The Law States:
"A statement in a document produced by a computer shall not be admissible as evidence of any fact stated therein unless it is shown that: (a) there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the statement is inaccurate because of improper use of the computer; (b) at all material times the computer was operating properly, or if not, that any respect in which it was not operating properly or was out of operation was not such as to affect the production of the document or the accuracy of its contents; and (c) any relevant conditions specified in rules of court under subsection (2) are satisfied."
How Confirmd Platform Complies:
Confirmd Platform maintains comprehensive audit logs and system integrity monitoring that prove:
- a)The system operates according to documented procedures with regular security audits, demonstrating no improper use
- b)System uptime and operation logs demonstrate the computer was functioning properly during credential issuance
- c)The platform can generate certificates of compliance satisfying court rules on computer evidence
Certificate of Compliance
The Law States:
"For the purpose of this section, a certificate... (a) identifying the electronic record to which it relates; (b) describing the manner in which the electronic record was produced; and (c) giving such particulars of any device involved in the production of that electronic record as may be appropriate for the purpose of showing that the electronic record was produced by a computer, shall be evidence of the matters stated in the certificate."
How Confirmd Platform Complies:
For every credential issued, Confirmd Platform can generate a statutory certificate of compliance that includes:
- ✓Credential identification: Unique credential ID, issuance date, and recipient details
- ✓Production method: Description of cryptographic signing process and W3C standard compliance
- ✓System particulars: Details of the Confirmd Platform infrastructure, security measures, and audit trail
Digital Chain of Custody
How Confirmd Platform Complies:
Section 83(4) requires proof that electronic evidence was in proper custody and not altered. Confirmd Platform creates immutable audit trails showing who accessed, modified, or transmitted credentials at every stage. This satisfies court requirements for evidence integrity by providing:
- •Timestamp records for all credential operations
- •Cryptographic proof of who performed each action
- •Blockchain anchoring ensuring audit trail cannot be retroactively modified
Cross-Border Evidence Recognition
Foreign Public Documents
The Nigerian Evidence Act 2023 includes provisions for recognizing foreign public documents. W3C verifiable credentials issued by Confirmd Platform comply with Section 126 on foreign public documents, enabling Nigerian courts to accept electronic credentials from foreign issuers with proper authentication.
International Use Cases:
- •Nigerian universities issuing credentials accepted by UK courts in immigration proceedings
- •Foreign educational credentials verified in Nigerian employment disputes
- •Professional licenses from other jurisdictions authenticated in Nigerian regulatory proceedings
Practical Benefits for Legal Proceedings
For Courts
- • Instant verification without contacting issuers
- • Reduced case delays from document authentication
- • Tamper-proof evidence with cryptographic guarantees
- • Clear audit trails for evidence integrity
For Litigants
- • No need to obtain certified true copies
- • Present evidence remotely without physical documents
- • Reduced litigation costs and time
- • Protection against document fraud
For Legal Practitioners
- • Simplified evidence authentication procedures
- • Stronger evidentiary foundation for documents
- • Ability to verify credentials during case preparation
- • Reduced risk of presenting forged documents
For Credential Issuers
- • Reduced verification request workload
- • Protection against forgery of their credentials
- • Clear legal framework for digital issuance
- • Compliance with statutory requirements
Ready to Experience Court-Ready Credentials?
See how Confirmd Platform creates legally compliant verifiable credentials