The Lagos State Chief Judge Honoruable Justice K.O Alogba has made it mandatory for all Registrars of Court to notify Counsel and Parties involved in a matter notice any time court would not sit.
In a circular to the Registrars dated 21st January, 2020, the Chief Judge directed that at least 48 hours prior notice must be given to litigants and their counsel whenever a case is not going on. The directive also stated that defaulters would be met with disciplinary action.
The circular reads in part:
The Hon. Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem O. Alogba has directed that whenever the Court will not be sitting, all Court Registrars Must Notify Counsel and Parties involved in the matter via SMS (text/email or both not less than 48 hours before the date the matter is slated for.
Note that failure to comply with this directive will be met with stern disciplinary action.
The above directive which many say is long overdue would save lawyers and litigants’ time as they would not have to first get to court to find out that the Judge is unavailable for the day’s business.
The question of strict adherence to the directives would be answered in the coming days as skeptics worry about what would happen in situations where judges fail to communicate their unavailability to the Registrars within the stipulated time.