Covid-19: Bayelsa chief judge, orders suspension of court sittings
The Chief Judge of Bayelsa state, Justice Kate Abiri, has ordered the immediate suspension of court sittings in the state with effect from March 24, for a period of two weeks.
This was contained in a press statement signed and issued in Yenagoa, the state capital by the Head of Media and Information of the Bayelsa state judiciary, Mr. Julius Nyananyo.
He said that the suspension is in line with the directive from the office of the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Ibrahim Tanko-Muhammad as measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
According to the chief judge, in order to taking further preventive steps in tackling the reality of the coronavirus in the country, all judges, magistrates, chairmen of customary courts are advised to adhere to the directive.
Explaining further, Justice Abiri said the directive is aimed at protecting judges, magistrates and other staffs of the courts as well as litigants from contracting the disease.
She however, said the courts will only be open to matters that are urgent, essential or time bound according to the extant laws and called for understanding from the litigating public.
The chief judge therefore, called on the general public to take cognizance of the consequences of the disease and appealed that the decision is in the best interest of the health of court users.
