The Cross River State Acting Chief Judge Maurice Eneji, has announced the suspension of court sittings today, 24th Day of March 2020, to control and contain the spread of the virus in the country.
And In furtherance to the safety advisories of the National Judiciary Court (NJC), The Press Release of the Executive Governor of Cross River State- Sen (Prof.) Sir Benedict Bengioushuye Ayade, Chairman, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR; to safeguard the health of the litigants, lawyers and personnel in the Courts.
The Honourable Justice Maurice O. Eneji, Acting Chief Judge of Cross River State has issued the following directives.
The directive which was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Registrar, Edem N. Okokon, Esq, read in parts;
- That all Courts are from today, 24th Day of March, 2020, directed to suspend all court sittings for an initial period of two weeks at the first instance, except in matters that are urgent, essential or time bound according to our extant law.
- That the general public shall not be allowed into the Court premises, unless in extreme urgencies viz; filling of new applications/matters.
- That in matter of urgent, essential or time bound, person in the court room must keep reasonable distance of not less than 1metre from each other.
- That only parties involved in a case, their lawyer and witnesses shall be allowed into the Court hall during proceedings._
- That in criminal matters, only arrangements and bail applications shall be entertained.
- That all key staff’s such as Acting CJ’s office, clerks of Courts, Account and registry should not totally abandon their duty posts and should keep their phone open at all times.
Please see directives of the CJN, (Dr.) Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR and the Press Release of the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Sen. (Prof.) Benedict Bengioushuye Ayade, for more information and strict compliance.
