COVID-19: Lagos Chief Judge Limits Court Attendance

• Lagos State recorded 461 new COVID-19 infections as of Saturday according to the daily case update provided by the NCDC
• While schools have seen the greenlight to resume on Monday January 18, the state government have also asked civil servants of level 14 and below to continue to work from home for another two weeks

Lagos State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba, has restricted the number of persons to be in attendance in courts as part of efforts to check the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A circular dated January 15 quoted the Chief Judge as saying only essential court staff are to report for work as only them will be allowed into the court premises.

It also stated that in High Courts, only the presiding Judge and four other staff, which include, the Secretary, Legal Registrar, Court Clerk and Recorder shall attend court.

Read also: Sanwo-Olu Extends Civil Servants’ Work-From-Home Order By Another Two Weeks

For the Magistrate Courts, the attendance is limited to only the Chief Magistrate on grade level 15 and above, together with their legal registrars and court clerks.

The Chief Registrar and Deputy Chief Registrar, however, are expected to be in attendance throughout the week, with the chief registrar having two support staff and the deputy having the secretary and additional staff on a rotational basis.

“Courts are to sit only thrice in a week, between Monday to Thursday at the discretion of the Hon. Judges and the Chief Magistrates,” the circular further said.