Human rights activist, Femi
Falana has advised the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad
to direct Judges to listen to “urgent cases” via Skype and Zoom, following the
lockdown order issued by state governments and the federal government after the
outbreak of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
He averred that this will
ensure that thousands of people who are either awaiting trial or under
investigation are not subjected to unlawful detention.
Falana’s statement reads in
part;
“SINCE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS RELAXED THE LOCKDOWN BY ALLOWING MARKETS, SHOPS AND STALLS
SELLING FOOD AND GROCERIES TO OPEN TO CUSTOMERS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10:00 AM
AND 2:00 PM DAILY, THE NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL (NJC) OUGHT TO REVIEW THE SUSPENSION
OF COURT SITTINGS TO ENABLE THEM TO ATTEND TO URGENT MATTERS.
“THE REVIEW HAS BECOME
NECESSARY IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT MOTIONS FOR THE BAIL OF MANY CRIMINAL
SUSPECTS AND APPLICATIONS TO SECURE THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO
PERSONAL LIBERTY OF OTHER DETAINEES ARE PENDING IN SEVERAL COURTS IN ALL THE STATES
OF THE FEDERATION AND IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY.
“IN ADDITION, THE RETURN
DATES IN RESPECT OF SEVERAL EX PARTE ORDERS MADE BY MAGISTRATES FOR THE REMAND
OF A NUMBER OF CRIMINAL SUSPECTS WHICH HAVE SINCE EXPIRED ARE DUE TO BE QUASHED
OR RENEWED TO EXTEND TIME FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
“MORE SO THAT THE HEADS OF
THE VARIOUS COURTS ARE VESTED WITH THE POWER TO DESIGNATE JUDGES AND
MAGISTRATES TO ATTEND TO URGENT MATTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
ESTABLISHING SUCH COURTS. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO OBSERVE THE SOCIAL DISTANCING
DIRECTIVE WE SUGGEST THAT ARRANGEMENTS BE MADE FOR JUDGES TO HEAR URGENT
APPLICATIONS VIA SKYPE OR ZOOM.”
No comments:
Post a Comment