By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Regular proceedings/trials before the Federal High Court Lagos are yet to commence as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hit hard on litigants whose cases slated for trial/hearing are yet to start.
A check by TheNiche at the Federal High Court Lagos on Wednesday revealed that judges only sit to deliver pending rulings and perhaps take ex-parte applications.
Besides, various cause lists in courtrooms showed that all matters slated for hearing/trial in late March and April but could not be heard due to the lockdown have not been given new adjourned dates.
According to the court registrars, no date for matters has been given until the COVID-19 lockdown is fully eased and regular court proceedings commences.
For instance, the trials of former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Mrs Jumoke Akinjide, Dauda Lawal, Mrs Nenadi Usman and Femi Fani-Kayode among others which were to go on but could not due to the lockdown have not been given new dates for continuation of their trials.
“The court only sits to deliver pending judgements on selected days in a week and no trials of any kind now,” one of the registrars said.
“It is only when things come to normal that trials can commence. It is then that parties can be given new dates of adjournment for their matters.”
Other registrars also gave the same explanation.
However, some judges who were in court stayed in their Chambers for the purpose of any urgent matter that may be assigned to them by the Admin judge.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court Lagos which used to bubble with activities before the lockdown, still remains dull as only a few people are allowed into the premises by security men.
Judiciary workers were very few and confined themselves to their various courts while lawyers who were well screened, explained why and what they came to do in court.