The Ota branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, (The Utter Bar) chairman, Isaac Ogbah, FICMC, has urged all members of the branch, take safety measures in this trending period of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Ogbah in his statement made available to TheNigerialawyer(TNL) also urged his members to adhere strictly to the recommendations set out by World Health Organizations (WHO) in order to stay health.

He pointed out that the safety and wellbeing of all Members of the Utter Bar and their respective families and members of of the law firms is of prime importance to the Executive Committee of the Utter Bar.

He also appealed to the members not to resort to taking Self medication or Chloroquine either for prevention or for treatment of COVID 19 rather they should consult their doctors.

He said: “In view of the increasing rate that the Covid-19 pandemic is spreading globally, Nigeria now being at the dawn of this pandemic, We humbly implore our Members to take heed to the safeguards as directed by the World Health Organization (WHO), and now being emphasized by respective States and Federal Givernments respectively, to wit :

1. Avoid handshakes.

2. Wash your hands regularly with soap and running water .

3. Sanitize your hands with alcohol based SANITIZER on a regular basis.

4. Maintain a social distance of up to three metre from nearest contact.

5. Report any symptoms to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and self isolate immediately

6. Avoid touching your face or pricking your nose.

7. Stay away from crowded environments.

8. Use your non activity hand when opening doors, cars, carrying some thing or doing any activity in a Public Place.

See the following link For further information: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

“WITH A VIEW OF PROTECTING THE LIVES OF ALL OUR MEMBERS AND TO COMPLY WITH GOVERNMENT DIRECTIVES CANCELLING SOCIAL GATHERINGS OF NOT MORE THAN 50 PERSONS (NOW REVIEWED TO NOT MORE THAT 20 PERSONS) THAT WE HAD TO CALL OFF OUR MARCH 2020 GENERAL MEETING OF THE UTTER BAR*.

“THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WILL MAKE FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT IN DUE COURSE AS TO WHEN NEXT OUR NEXT GENERAL MEETING WILL HOLD*

IN VIEWN OF THE FACT THAT MARCH 31ST IS IN FAST APPROACHING AND WE NOT BEING CERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT AN EXTENSION WILL BE GRANTED FOR THE PAYMENT OF BAR PRACTICING FEES ON OR BEFORE 31ST OF MARCH IN EVERY YEAR, SO AS TO BE ENTITLED TO ALL THE BENEFITS THAT ACCRUES TO A MEMBER,

“WE SINCERELY IMPLORE ALL OUR MEMBERS YET TO PAY THEIR BPF TO KINDLY DO SAME WITHIN THE FEW DAYS LEFT EITHER THROUGH THE ONLINE PLATFORM OF NBA OR AT ANY NEAREST ACCESS BANK FACILITY.

“IN VIEW OF THE RECENT DIRECTIVES FROM THE HONOURABLE CHIEF JUDGE OF OGUN STATE REGARDING THE SKELETAL JUDICIAL SERVICES COUPLED WITH THE DIRECTIVES GIVEN BY THE HONOURABLE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT COURTS NATIONWIDE WOULD NOT BE SITTING EXCEPT IN RESPECT TO MATTERS AS SPECIFICALLY STATED IN THE VARIOUS CIRCULARS IN ISSUE.

“PURSUANT TO THE ABOVE AND WITH A VIEW AT KEEPING ALL MEMBERS AND OUR RESPECTIVE FAMILIES ALIVE, WE STRONGLY ADVISE OUR MEMBERS TO WORK FROM HOME AND AVOID ANY CROWDED ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS OBSERVING THE SOCIAL DISTANCING POLICY.

“STAY AT HOME TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY AND THE NATION AT LARGE ALIVE.

“ALSO WORYHY OF NOTE IS OUR STRONG ADVISE TO ALL UTTER BAR MEMBERS NOT TO ENGAGE IN SELF MEDICATION. BEING LEARNED GENTLEMEN, WE SHOILD BE WISE ENOUGH TO CONSULT OUR HEALTH PRACTITIONERS IN CASES OF EMERGENCIES AND DON’T SUBSCRIBE TO THE USE OF CHLOROQUINE AS EITHER PREVENTIVE MEASURE OR TREATMENT, IF NOT SO DIRECTED BY YOUR PHYSICIAN, AS THE DRUG HAS NOT BEEN CLINICALLY APPROVED AS AT TODAY!!!.

“GOD KEEPING US ALL ALIVE, WE SHALL ALL HAVE CAUSE TO CELEBRATE EVEN AS WE PRAY THAT THIS PANDEMIC COMES TO AN END SOONEST AND THE REQUISITE VACCINE TO CURE THIS PANDEMIC VIRUS BE MANUFACTURED SOONEST.

“WE CELEBRATE YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS,” he stated.