Coronavirus: Lagos State Judiciary Bans Public Entry Into Court

The Lagos State Judiciary at the weekend announced pre emptive measures to curb the spread of the dreaded coronavirus in both magistrates and high courts across the state.

The Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba announced measures to be taken curb the dreaded disease.

Below is an official statement signed on behalf of the judiciary by the Chief Registrar, Mrs D.T Olatokun.

*LAGOS STATE JUDICIARY*
*ENTRY INTO COURT PREMISES (GUIDELINES)*

IN VIEW OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID – 19) PANDEMIC AND IN ORDER TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF COURT PERSONNEL AND USERS, THE HON. CHIEF JUDGE OF LAGOS STATE, HON. KAZEEM .O. ALOGBA HAS MADE THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIVES IN RESPECT OF COURT SITTINGS AT THE HIGH AND MAGISTRATES’ COURTS OF LAGOS STATE:

MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ENTRY INTO THE COURT PREMISES, SAVE THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO FILE URGENT MATTERS/APPLICATIONS.

IN ALL CASES, ONLY PARTIES WHOSE CASES ARE TO BE HEARD, THEIR WITNESSES AND COUNSEL, WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THE COURT ROOM AT ANY SITTING TIME, SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM OF TWENTY PERSONS ALTOGETHER.

IN THE COURT ROOMS, PERSONS SHALL KEEP A DISTANCE OF AT LEAST ONE METRE TO EACH OTHER, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION.

IN CRIMINAL MATTERS–ONLY REMAND/BAIL APPLICATIONS, AND OVERNIGHT CASES WILL BE HEARD.

IN CIVIL MATTERS – ONLY –
(1) EX-PARTE AND URGENT APPLICATIONS;
(2) ADOPTION OF WRITTEN ADDRESSES –
WILL BE ENTERTAINED;
(3) JUDGMENTS AND RULINGS WILL BE READ.

FURTHER DIRECTIVES WILL ISSUE AS THE SITUATION IMPROVES.
DATED THIS 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2020.

SIGNED
D.T.OLATOKUN (MRS.)
CHIEF REGISTRAR

28th March 2024
Nigerian Pantagraph
Logo