A review of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja COVID-19 practice direction 2020

INTRODUCTION

The world is currently under the scourge of the Corona Virus (code named COVID-19 as its widespread discovery was made in 2019 hence the name herein referred to as the “Virus”). This situation however brought about imposition of Lockdown Orders in areas affected globally to help curb the spread. Nigeria was not left behind as President Muhammadu Buhari swung into action by invoking the powers conferred on him by Section 4 of the Quarantine Act. In the heat of the pandemic, need was desired that the judicial wheel be not forestalled and so some Courts carried out proceedings via virtual means during the lockdown period with the intention of not piling up cases in the docket.

THE HIGH COURT OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA COVID-19 PRACTICE DIRECTION 2020

The Judiciary saw the need to continue in its administration of justice despite the pandemic and with the consideration of the urgency of some cases with preferences to criminal and election matters before the Courts. A drastic step was taken by the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in person of Hon. Justice I. U. Bello, FNIALS, who exercised the powers conferred on him by Section 259 of the Constitution; Section 109 of the High Court Act, Order 1 Rule 3 of the High Court Rules and Section 490 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which provides for the powers of the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to make rules for regulating the practice and procedure of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

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