Lawyers, litigants express delight as courts reopen after 64 days
…NCoS calls for virtual sitting for speedy trials
By Ayo Fadimu
Lawyers and litigants on Tuesday expressed delight over reopening of courts all over the country after 64 days
The strike which is the longest industrial action in the Nigerian judiciary was suspended on June 9,following a meeting between officials of the union and the National Judicial Council (NJC) led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad.
Both parties agreed that the strike should be called off in the interest of the nation and to give room for the implementation of agreements JUSUN reached with the Federal Government.
A lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Onyekwere, told our Correspondent that he was excited about the resumption and even though there are skeletal services in court right now, we hope by tomorrow things will fall into place.
“Activities in court are slowly picking up because there are grasses to be cut, cleaning to be done, but I am excited about the resumption.
“I got here very early to see how things will turn out and I must say that I am impressed as preparation are in place for a conducive sitting session.
He therefore said that the JUSUN strike is an eye opener that people cannot stay quiet for so long. It is not a rule yet, but it is a statement.
“I am hopeful that the effect of this strike will be enough to change things and bring the government to the realization that when people want change, they can go all in to get it.
“The same way many lawyers depended on daily appearances in Court to survive, the government also would have lost a lot of revenues like filing processes, probate and auxiliary fees.
“With this recently ended strike, I don’t think the government will want the union to embark on another strike.” Onyekwere said.
Also, a legal registrar at the Surulere court Mr Teslim Ajose, said he was thrilled that the strike was called off, but he hopes that the purpose yields a positive result.
“I was thrilled when I heard the strike was called off, because a lot of our expectations were lost when the strike lingered longer that we expected.
“Two months without doing anything for me was like a punishment and I hope that our demands are met accordingly,” he said.
The Secretary to the Chief Magistrate, Shakirat Oyediran, also said she was delighted and very hopeful.
She added that the strike was an indication that we have a voice and will continue to use it.
“Every person, regardless of their position has a voice and must be heard. I hope the strike improves everything we have been asking for,” Oyediran said.
Another lawyer, Mr Ademola Omoboye, said the strike was for a good cause, but it was a difficult time that he prayed to be over.
“I know the strike was for a good reason, but when it got to the third week I started praying for the government to meet the demands.
“The 64 days long strike was long and tough enough to put a hole in one’s pocket, especially when it affects your means of livelihood directly.
“I believe things will gradually get better from now on,” he said.
In the meantime, our Correspondents who monitored activities at the High Court, Tafa Balewa Square (TBS), report that cleaners were seen cleaning the courtrooms.
Some lawyers and litigants were seen at the court premises taking dates while some were filing new cases at the litigation department.
Our Correspondent observed that Justice O. O. Ogunjobi sat and attended to some cases which included two cases involving customers and Eko Electricity Company.
However, the cases could not go on because they were still undergoing mediation proceedings.
A lawyer to the customers of Eko Electric, Mr A. A. Lawal told our Correspondent that he was just informed of the new date on Monday, June 14.
He said that court proceedings would soon normalise, “lawyers are trying to get dates for their cases.”
Another lawyer, Mr Kene Udemezue, said he came to court because his client’s case was already fixed for today before the strike.
Udemezue said the case did not go because the judge did not sit.
He, however, said that a new date was given to him by the court’s registrar.
In related development, activities have resumed on Tuesday at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja and some court in Kano after the suspension of JUSUN 64-day strike.
Our correspondent who monitored activities reports that the premises of the court on Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Garki, was buzzing with activities, staff members attending to lawyers and litigants.
The court staff however said they were waiting for directives from the judges to start giving dates for cases.
Some lawyers were also seen at the central registry of the court either filing additional or fresh processes.
A staff of the registry, Mr Aminu Ibrahim said “ as you can see the registry is opened and you can see people waiting their turn to file old and fresh processes.”
It was also observed that some staff moved around offices to exchange pleasantries and catch up with colleagues they had not seen for months.
Although there was no physical court sittings slated for Tuesday, however, the court has virtual proceedings for two courts by 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
The President, NICN, Justice Benedict Kanyip, has equally issued a practice directions, exempting payment of default fees for filing processes in the court for the period of the JUSUN strike, being from April 6 June 14.
Kanyip issued the directions in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 254F(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Section 36 of the NICN (Civil procedure) Rules 2017.
He further directed that the practice directions shall come into effect from Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Controller, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), FCT command, Mr Abdul-rahman Maiyaki, has called for virtual court sitting for inmates to aid speedy decongestion of custodial centres.
Maiyaki made the call during a courtesy visit to Justice Peters Kekemeke, Federal High Court, Nyanya on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the purpose of the visit was to address the issues the inmates were facing in the custodial centres, noting that remand inmates were of major concern.
The controller noted that although virtual court sitting had been on during the recent strike by court workers, he said it was necessary to continue virtual court sittings to help inmates get justice immediately.
“By so doing, this will not only address the issue of overcrowding but also ease the unnecessary panic and tension that lead to jailbreaks in the custodial centres.
“The issue of Awaiting Trials Persons (ATPs) as well would be addressed and this would decongest our custodial centres as most of them were the reasons the custodial centres were overcrowded,” he said.
Maiyaki assured Kekemeke of the security of any Judge sent to the custodial centres for any sitting as NCoS had put in place necessary measures to ensure their safety.
“We have decided that no inmates will be seen around the centres until the trials are done. We have also prepared a place for the justice to sit,” he said.
Responding, Justice Kekemeke said majority of inmates on remand had not been convicted of a criminal offence and were awaiting trial following a not guilty plea.
Kekemeke said several inmates had been illegally kept behind bars without any reason, adding that virtual sitting would help in decongesting the centres.
The judge who doubles as the Liaison Officer of the high court and NCoS assured the team of quick response to help fight overcrowding.
“We will be proactive in sending the magistrates to visit the custodial centres to ensure the Correctional Service is decongested.
“The court will ensure people are posted once or twice to the centres for inmates’ trials,” he said.
Kekemeke urged the controller and his team to make provisions to construct courts inside the custodial centres, adding that it would solve the issue of overcrowding speedily.
He noted that cases were slow due to lack of witnesses, and that magistrates and judges were always ready to work but witnesses were not always on ground.
The judge also urged them to carry the police and other necessary sister agencies along in their arrangements to have an effective outcome.
