Judicial activities resumed in courts across Lagos State Tuesday following the suspension of an eight-week nationwide strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
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JUSUN embarked on the strike on April 6, to press home its demand for judicial autonomy and financial independence, but called it off on June 9.
The Court of Appeal on Lagos Island led the way in Lagos hearing nine matters, including suits by former NBA President Olisa Agbakoba, SAN against the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Lagos State Governor against Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, and two suits by the Attorney-General of the Federation against the late Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Buruji Kashamu.
Activities were low key at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi with only one judge sitting. Other courtrooms were adjusting to the recent transfer of federal judges across the country.
At the Lagos High Court, Tafa Balewa Square (TBS), courtrooms were open and cleaners were seen cleaning the courts, while court registrars were seen preparing lists of expected cases.
The Nation observed lawyers filing new cases at the court’s litigation department.
One of them, Mr Ikechukwu Anima of the D Crest Chambers Lagos Island, who filed a suit for infringement of his client’s rights, expressed delight that courts had resumed, adding that the client almost lost hope of getting justice while the strike lasted.
One of the judges that sat was Justice O.O. Ogunjobi. He heard two cases involving customers of Eko Electricity Distribution Company and adjourned till July 7, for continuation of trial.
One of the lawyers in the case, Mr A. A Lawal said “Lawyers are trying to get dates for their cases.”
Another lawyer, Mr Ben Eneremadu, said he was also informed on Monday that his case would come up Tuesday.
Eneremadu said: “We sued Eko Electricity for estimated billing and we asked them to install prepaid metres for their customers. I was called yesterday (Monday) by the court to inform us of Tuesday’s proceedings.”
Another lawyer, Mr Kene Usemezue, said his case was already fixed for Tuesday before the court went on strike.
Court activities fully resumed at the Ikeja High Court too as lawyers and litigants started driving in as early 8am.
Although all the courtrooms were open most judges could not sit due to the effect of the strike on justice administration.
Lawyers were seen moving in and out of various courtrooms getting new dates for trial of their part-heard cases.
In the courts where judges sat, they presided over cases listed for mention and fixed dates for hearing.
Among judges that sat Tuesday were Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court and Justices Hakeem Oshodi and Mojisola Dada both of the court’s Criminal Division.
No fewer than six judges retired from the Lagos bench during the JUSUN strike having attained the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.
The registrars in the affected courts were seen moving case files to the office of the Chief Registrar of the High Court for re-assignment to new judges.
However, the registry department of the Ikeja High Court was a beehive of activities as lawyers made efforts to file fresh cases.
Commissioners for Oaths were also busy attending to deponents.
The situation was similar at the Magistrates Courts at Ogba and Tafawa Balewa Square.
JUSUN last Wednesday suspended the strike following a meeting between officials of the union and the National Judicial Council (NJC) led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.
Courts in Delta set to begin legal proceedings
While in Delta preparatory activities for court proceedings began Tuesday, at the Federal and State High Courts sitting in Warri, Warri South council area of Delta state, following courts resumption after a 64-day-old strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
Although the judges did not sit, Our correspondent learnt that lawyers had flocked the various courts to file cases and also get new dates for cases that came up during the over two months strike.
At the Federal High Court, the judge, did not sit.
The case was no different at the Delta State High Court and Magistrate Courts sitting in Warri.
Some workers at the courts premises said legal proceedings may not start until next week, adding that the court rooms and offices were been cleaned.
One of the workers, who spoke in confidence, said “we have resumed but we are cleaning the place.
“Lawyers have been coming to file cases since morning. We have to sort the old files too, so that they can get new dates for cases that ought to have been heard.”
Chairman of the NBA, Warri Branch, Chief Emmanuel Uti, said the resumption is most welcomed.
“The resumption is very good for legal practitioners and also good for persons who have been languishing in detention since they started the said strike.
“It is also good for the Judiciary arm of government that has been off for the past two months. In fact, it is so unfortunate that we allowed an arm of government to be lying low for two months.
“We are happy that it has resumed. And the private legal practitioners, who have suffered so much in the course of the strike, would be very happy that their work has come back.
“It is necessary that we have to ensure that all what needed to be done must be done for justice sake. We are grateful to all who fought,” Uti stated.
Enugu Courts Resume Sitting After 10 Weeks Old Strike
…We converted our cars to cab business, say lawyers
Courts in Enugu State Tuesday resumed sessions after a nearly three-month strike action by the judiciary staff under the auspices of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN),
Our correspondent, who visited the Enugu State Judiciary Headquarters complex at Independence Layout, Enugu, observed an unusual crowd of people at the registries and at the Affidavit Office, where a long queue of persons were seen waiting to get one documents or another.
Most judges were seen in the court premises as their chambers and courtrooms were being cleaned.
They were later seen issuing hearing notices so that everybody would be aware of their dates before matters were called up again in the courts.
Most workers were seen carrying files from place to place while lawyers were seen taking new dates for their cases.
Speaking with our correspondent, a lawyer, Barr. Ifeanyi Egbo who was in the court to take hearing notice, lamented that for the past 10 weeks, the courts have been under locks and keys.
Egbo said litigants had been worst hit because “you know justice delayed is justice denied. Within the 10 weeks of strike, those accused persons held in various Correctional Centres could have regained their freedom if not this strike
“Some others with ongoing trial would have seen their trials concluded with them knowing their fates.”
It was learnt that most young lawyers who concentrated on litigation were worst hit by the strike.
Some of the lawyers, who spoke our correspondent in confidence, said they converted their vehicles to commercial cabs while others said they took up menial jobs to fend for themselves.
One of them said, “For some of us lawyers especially those of us who specialize in litigations, it has been a very difficult 10 weeks for us. For me, I had to get involved in farming it was not very easy, but I was able to sustain myself with my farm.
“Some of my colleagues also converted their vehicles to cab operations with others taking up lots of menial jobs in order to sustain themselves and families.
“We are happy that the courts have resumed. We hope by tomorrow or next the judges will start sitting properly.”
The national vice president southeast and chairman of Enugu State, JUSUN, Comrade Chinedu Mba lamented that the strike action had to affect the common masses, but said the workers were only demanding their legitimate entitlements.
“When two elephants are fighting, it is the grass that suffers. If you go to the police stations and Correctional Centers, you see the results of the strike. The cells and prisons have been congested with suspects.
“Thank God we have called off the strike. I can tell you that our workers are ready to work. They’re only demanding their entitlements.”
Mba added, “Judges came to work today but, you know, they had to re-fix dates for cases. Most of the dates have elapsed.
“They’re issuing hearing notices so that everybody will be aware before matters are called up again in the courts.”
He assured that the long queues witnessed in some offices would fizzle out in a matter of days, adding that before the end of the week, everything will come to normal.
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