Shutdown: FHC snubs NBA, mounts precautionary measures on COVID-19

Against all expectations, the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday was a beehive of activities as it continued normal court proceedings in virtually all the courtrooms visited by our Judiciary Reporter.

Blueprint reports that the umbrella body of lawyers had in a statement on Sunday by its President, Paul Usoro SAN, recommended total shutdown of courts, especially in densely populated cities to curb the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

Advancing its reasons, the NBA said, “The way many courtrooms in the country were built would make it difficult to follow the World Health Organization’s advisory on social distancing,”

Meanwhile, in crass disobedience to the recommendation, the court on Monday opened for activities but not without precautionary measures being mounted around the vicinity.

Apart from temperature checks at the main entrance, there were hand sanitizers mounted against the wall for lawyers, media and visitors.

While speaking to Blueprint correspondent, a staff of the court, Abbas Ibrahim Abbas, said there was a standing instruction signed by the Deputy Chief Registrar, Maimunat Folami, that everybody entering the court be subjected to screening.

Commenting on the development, a legal practitioner, Daniel Igba described the precaution measure as necessary, advising that individual should also strive to adhere to government instructions.

Meanwhile, death toll of COVID-19 have hit 14,573 worldwide with Italy leading the pack.

In a bid to contain the rapid spread of the pandemic in Nigeria, the federal government has been leveraging on technology.

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