By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
In order to avoid continuous delays in the judicial system occasioned by the JUSUN strike which has affected postings of federal high court judges, the Chief Judge of Federal High Court, Justice John T. Tshoho has approved amended Directions on Management of Criminal and Civil cases.
According to the circular addressing the matter arising from the posting of judges and signed by the Chief Judge Hon. Justice John T. Tsoho, which was made available to judicial reporters, it contained matters on amendment of instructions relating to the management of Criminal and Civil cases as it arises from posting of Judges.
The circular reads: “CRIMINAL CASES (i) Where trial de novo of part-heard cases will occasion much hardship to the parties, the trial judge may be required to conclude same, upon application for and issuance of fiat to that effect.
“(ii) All pending Judgements, Rulings and capable of terminating cases, which have been written and printed out especially during the period of the JUSUN strike action, maybe delivered, even without the necessity of fiat. In any other situation, fiat must be sought and obtained to deliver Judgements and Rulings outside of the Judge’s Judicial Division.
“CIVIL CASES: Matters that have been tried up to the stage of defense are to be concluded with the issuance of fiat especially where parties are disposed to follow the trial Judge to the new station. It further stated that the new instruction supersedes any other earlier instructions in that regard.
