By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John T.Tsoho, has ordered the continuous hearing of special cases before the Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt divisions.
This is sequel to the Federal High Court of Nigeria Easter vacation for two weeks which was to commence after Easter Monday and in line with the lockdown directive by the Federal Government to curtail the spread of coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.
According to the statement on Friday from the office of the Chief Judge which was made available to newsmen by the Information Officer, Mrs Catherine Oby Nwandu, Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha will be sitting at the Abuja division to preside over the special cases from the Northern judicial divisions; Justice Muslim Hassan will sit in Lagos division to preside over the special cases from Western judicial divisions, while Justice Hilary Oshomah will sit in Port-Harcourt division to hear special cases from the Eastern judicial divisions.
The statement reads: “Further to the earlier notice of the Federal High Court Easter Vacation and consequent upon the lockdown occasioned by the ravaging Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) with accompanying continuous restriction of both vehicular and human movements as ordered by both the Federal and State Governments, the Easter Vacation Roster has been amended.
“Thus the underlisted Judges have been chosen to serve at the designated Judicial Divisions, across the six(6) Geo-Political Zones of Nigeria:
“Abuja Judicial Division: Hon.Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha; Lagos Judicial Division: Hon.Justice Muslim Hassan; and Port-Harcourt Judicial Division: Hon.Justice Hilary Oshomah.”
According to the statement, the directive by the Chief Judge is with immediate effect.
