COVID-19: Kwara CJ designates Magistrate Courts to try violators of lockdown order

As part of efforts to ensure compliance with the lockdown order of the State Government and to curtail the spread of coronavirus, the Kwara State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Sulyman D. Kawu has designated Magistrate Courts in the State to hear and determine breaches of the regulation and other extent laws related thereto.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Register of High Court, Chief Magistrate S.B. Olanipekun, the setting up of the Courts became necessary following the signing of the Kwara State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 and the issuance of restriction of both human and vehicular movements order by His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq , for the protection of the lives of the citizenry against the ravaging coronavirus pandemic.
The statement added that: “for the information of relevant stakeholders and members of the public, admittance of offenders/defendants, legal practitioners, prosecutors and others into courtrooms shall be strictly on case by case basis and only after they have been subjected to temperature checks, hand washing and other sanitary measures put in place at the court premises.”
According to the statement, that sitting arrangements in the courtroom shall be in strict compliance with the social distancing guidelines issued by the relevant bodies.
The court is expected to begin sittings From Wednesday 15th April from 9:00am daily.
However, his lordship, Justice Kawu urged members of the public to strictly comply with the restoration order of the government by staying at home and to avoid gathering in crowds for the protection of all and sundry.