The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has directed courts to stop sitting pending the issuance of the National Judicial Council, NJC guidelines for the reopening of courts amid the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.
The CJN expressed worry that some courts had been sitting without waiting for the guidelines with the attendant risks or exposing judges within the age bracket of high potential risk.
In his memo issued on Monday the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 stated that in line with the phased easing of the lockdown by the PTF only staff on Grade Level 14 and above should resume duty.
It further said that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, had made an announcement to the effect that Nigeria is now at community transmission phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Therefore risking many judges and justices particularly those with underlying medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virulent manifestation of the disease once infected.
The CJN insisted that all Heads of Courts and Judicial Bodies are directed to continue to abide by the NJC initial directive until necessary guidelines are put in place .
On April 22, the NJC set up a 10-man committee headed by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour to develop a practical strategy on how courts would continue to function under the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
