The Chief Judge of the Kwara State High Court, Hon. Justice SD Kawu has today issued the Court’s Practice Directions No. 1 of 2020 which is to be applicable to all matters in the State High Court, Magistrates, Area Courts, Revenue Courts & Family Courts in Kwara State.

 

It would be recalled that in view of the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Kwara State High Court had earlier on suspended all the business of the Court, safe (prescribed) matters that require urgency.

Meanwhile, in view of the ease of the lockdown, the Kwara State Chief Judge had issued guidelines on the conduct of Court business amidst the pandemic.

In addition, the new Practice Direction is to the effect that physical filing in the registry of the Court is still allowed but service through online means are now acceptable and deemed to be proper service. Noting that parties shall now exchange processes vide email.

Furthermore, the Directions provide that enquiries of Court sitting by Lawyer or the parties is henceforth disallowed and that same should be done via electronic means.

Besides, by the new Directions, it is now mandatory for everyone (including the Judges) to use face masks with maintenance of physical distancing and not more than 20 persons in the Court room.

In addition, cases that only required to be heard via affidavit evidence may be determined through e-platforms such as Zoom, Skype amongst others. Also, Judges are now to start sitting on a rotational basis.

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