COVID-19: Nigerian Courts To Hold Virtual Proceedings – Malami Reveals

Amidst the continuous threat of deadly COVID-19 pandemic, The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has revealed plans of the judicial sector of the country to hold virtual proceedings through teleconference.

Speaking Via a statement he signed on Monday , Malami said the new plans are aimed at ensuring that the judicial time lost to the COVID-19 lockdown is recovered.

He said judges “will be sitting and maintaining social distance while lawyers would be interfacing with the courts through their digital devices.”

According to Mr Malami, “Robust use of technological tools to conduct proceedings including virtual proceedings, this would also enable the justices/judges to preside over matters in their chamber without being physically present in a formal courtroom, parties and their counsel will only connect through teleconference means.

“The way to go in effect is that court proceedings should also be handled in a manner that reduces the number of persons in the courts at any given time.

“Although this requires the movement of suspects from prisons to the courts, all such suspects should be tested, in fact, everyone entering the court premises should be tested to ensure that they are not already positive, thus risking the lives of other people.”

Some of the changes sought by the minister would need to be backed up by the National Assembly and effected by the National Judicial Council (NJC), thus “empowering the institutions of the ACJA, 2015 to commence functioning immediately,” Mr Malami said.

 

Mr Malami also proposed that persons awaiting trial on minor criminal charges would be discharged, especially in cases where adjournments have been at the instance of the prosecution.

“Criminal charges of minor and non-indictable offences should be summarily tried and sentenced to non-custody penalties. Even in cases where sentenced persons cannot pay their fines, the court should consider other alternative punishments other than a jail term. This can include parole or probationary sentences and, if possible, community service like cleaning public places etc.”“Persons awaiting trial on minor criminal charges should be discharged, especially in cases where adjournments have been at the instance of the prosecution.”