The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice K. O Alogba has directed magistrates from grade level 10 and above who were hitherto affected by the Lagos State directives on Covid-19 restrictions to return to work.
The circular issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar (Admin) Mrs. Omolade Awope exempted all Magistrates who sit at the JIC Taylor Magistrate Court Building which was burnt down by hoodlums during the ENDSARS protest.
The circular reads in part:
“the Honourable Chief Judge has directed that ALL Magistrates from Grade Level 10 and above that were affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic Work From Home Directive of the Lagos State Government are to resume back to work on Wednesday, 24th March, 2021, excluding Magistrates posted to the JIC Taylor Magistrate Court Igbosere who are to await further directives in this regards.
Recall that the Lagos State Judiciary had issued further restrictions on Court attendance to staff of the various courts in the State in an effort to reduce the spread of the second wave of the novel corona virus. The restrictions which was issued on 15th January, 2021 in line with the directives of the head of service of state public service allowed sitting at the Magistrate Courts to only the Chief Magistrate on grade level 15 and above, with their legal registrars and court clerks.