Digital Evidence, Digital Forensics, and Digital Forensic Readiness

This chapter presents a scholarly review of the concepts of digital evidence, digital forensics, and digital forensic readiness. The chapter starts by introducing definitions, foundational concepts of digital evidence, and its relevance in crime investigations. The chapter examines the admissibility of digital evidence, both in Nigeria and other jurisdictions. The chapter analyses Nigeria’s Evidence Act, in relation to the admissibility of digital evidence in the Nigerian justice system. The chapter also presents important principles in the United States justice system, such as the Federal Rules of Evidence, Frye Standard, Daubert Standard, and other important principles of the admissibility of evidence. This chapter also presents digital forensics—definition, principles, and investigation models. The chapter also analyses the concept of digital forensic readiness. The chapter ends by reviewing available literature on digital forensic readiness of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.