By Michael Ojo
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken yet another toll on the Nigerian judiciary as the Federal High Court at the weekend suspends its annual redeployment of of judges.
The Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, in a circular stated that the suspension of redeployment was due to the effect of the pandemic. The circular was dated July 13, 2020. Judges across the country are expected to start their annual vacation soon, signifying the end of the 2019/20 legal year. If the redeployment had been carried out, most judges would have resumed in their new station in September 2020 when a new legal year begins.
The circular, titled ‘Suspension of transfer of Judges’, reads: Your Lordships are by this circular informed that in view of the difficulties and uncertainties brought about by the emergence of the Covid-19 Pandemic, posting of Judges has been suspended till further notice.
“In the meantime, Judges should attend to ALL cases pending before them.”
