NJC sets up C’ttee to work out ways court proceedings can continue amid Covid-19 measures

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up a 10-member committee to fashion out ways courts could sit amid measures to contain Covid-19 spread.

Lockdown and social distancing orders, over the novel coronavirus, currently constitute hindrances for normal court sittings.

But in a statement on Friday by its spokesman, Soji Oye, the NJC said the committee should workout how court could safely carry out proceedings in the midst of the current situation.

It gave the committee terms of references to include coming up with guidelines or template for implementation.

The NJC added that the committee was expected to look into possible areas of collaboration between the judiciary and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, stakeholders in the justice administration and development partners in the justice administration sector.

The committee was given 14 days to conclude its assignment.

READ ALSO: Kaduna govt moves to stem stigmatisation against COVID-19 patients

Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour of the Supreme Court is the chairman of the committee and the members are Justices M. B. Dongban-Mensem (acting President of the Court of Appeal), J. T. Tsoho (Chief Judge, Federal High Court), B. B. Kanyip (President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria), Ishaq Bello (Chief Judge, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory), Kashim Zannah (Chief Judge, Borno State) and O. A. Ojo.

Others are the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro (SAN), his predecessor, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Damian Dodo.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now