Trust, Transparency, and Digital Records Authenticity: Developing a Conceptual Model for Nigerian Judicial Records

This study develops a conceptual model integrating trust, transparency, and digital records authenticity for judicial records management in Nigerian courts, addressing a critical theoretical gap at the intersection of archival science, information law, and judicial administration. The increasing use of digital records in Nigerian court proceedings requires a theoretical model that accounts for the unique evidentiary demands, chain of custody requirements, and authenticity verification challenges specific to the judicial context. The research employs a conceptual model development methodology in four phases. Phase One conducts systematic literature review of 95 studies on digital records authenticity, trust in electronic evidence, and judicial information management (2015 to 2024). Phase Two collects qualitative empirical data through forty-five in-depth interviews with judges, court registrars, legal practitioners, and IT officers across federal and state courts in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, and Kano. Phase Three integrates findings into a draft conceptual model, iteratively refined through three Delphi rounds with twenty judicial information management experts. Phase Four validates the model through application to three documented judicial records integrity cases. The resulting Judicial Digital Records Trust Model (JDRTM) makes an original theoretical contribution at the intersection of archival science and evidence law in Nigeria. Recommendations target the National Judicial Council and the Evidence Act reform committee. Keywords: digital records authenticity, trust, transparency, judicial records, conceptual model