COVID-19: THE RUDE AWAKENING

On the 23rd of March 2020, the National Judicial Council, acknowledging the danger of Covid-19 pandemic and the severe threat it poses to human health, vide it’s circular with Ref No. NJC/CIR/HOC/11/631, directed all Heads of Courts thus: “… in view of the reality of the COVID-19 in the country and in order to take further preventive steps, all Heads of Courts are, from tomorrow, the 24th day of March 2020, directed to suspend Court sittings for an initial period of two weeks at the first instance, except in matters that are urgent, essential or time-bound according to our extant laws.”.

In the later circular issued on the 6th of April, 2020, with Ref. No. NJC/CIR/HOC/11/656, the National Judicial Council, extended the suspension of court sittings till further notice, in order to curb the spread of the novel Covid 19 pandemic, except for matters that are urgent, essential or time-bound according to laws.

In his effort to curb the spread of the Coronavirus in Lagos State, the Governor has issued the Lagos State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 pursuant to his powers under the State’s Public Health Law and the Federal Quarantine Act, Q2 LFN 2004. A breach of the Regulations is an offence under the Quarantine Act, and Lagos Public Health Law and an offender upon conviction would be liable to a fine or imprisonment or both in accordance with those laws.

President Buhari, on Monday 30th of March 2020, signed the Covid-19 Regulations 2020, which declared Covid-19 a dangerous infectious disease and authorised lockdown of activities in Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states to enable the government to contain further spread of the Coronavirus. In promulgating the Regulations, the President relied on the powers conferred on him by sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Quarantine Act, CAP Q2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and all powers enabling him in that behalf.

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