Federal High Court Goes On Annual Vacation, July 23. …Introduces E-Affidavit
Paschal Njoku
ABUJA -Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has announced that the court will go on its 2024, annual vacation on July 23.
The Chief Judge hinted that the yearly vacation of the court is in accordance to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4 (d) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.
Justice Tsoho disclosed that the vacation, which begins on July 23, will last till Friday, September 13, 2024 .
However, the Chief Judge states that formal court sittings shall resume on Monday, September 16, 2024.
The CJ’s notification was conveyed in a statement on Tuesday, by the Assistant Director of Information, Federal High Court of Nigeria, Dr Catherine Oby Christopher.
The statement explained that the vacation is in order for judicial officers to enjoy their rest and prepare for the tasks and activities of the new legal year.
According to the statement, three divisions of the court in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt would be opened to the litigating public for matters of extreme urgency only.
The statement stated that the Abuja division of the court would be presided by Justices Emeka Nwite and Peter Lifu as vacation Judges; Justices Akintayo Aluko and Isaac D. Dipeolu for Port- Harcourt division, while Justices A. T. Mohammed and P. M. Ayua, will sit as vacation Judges in Lagos.
Meanwhile, the court has issued a new practice direction on use of electronic affidavit (e-affidavit).
“The Federal High Court of Nigeria wishes to notify the general public of its Practice Directions on the newly introduced Electronic Affidavit (E-Affidavit)” according to a statement from the court on Tuesday.
The new practice directions, which take effect from the 1st day of July, 2024, is in line with the powers as conferred on the Chief Judge of FHC by Orders 57 and 58 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and all other powers enabling the him in that respect.
The FHC explained that the E-Affidavit shall not be a replacement for the manually sworn affidavit, as the aim of the Practice Directions is to ensure data protection in a user-friendly automated system of deposing to E-Affidavits.
“These Practice Directions shall, save to the extent as maybe otherwise directed by the Chief Judge, apply to E- Affidavits issuing from the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
Order ll (Objectives and Guiding Principles) of the practice directions stated that, “Whereas E-Affidavits issued by the Federal High Court are accepted globally and internationally, the purpose of this Practice Directions is to carry into effect for various purposes, the new E-Affidavit regime to be adopted by the Court particularly in; ensuring efficient, transparent and prompt issuance of E-Affidavits in compliance with global best practices; Protecting the interests of litigants and other users who desire the use of E-Affidavit; Regulating standard of issuance of E-Affidavit upon payment of prescribed fees.
On Order III (Implementation of E-Affidavit Regime), the court said, “Without prejudice to the provisions of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 and the Oaths Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010; all E-Affidavits of the Federal High Court shall emanate from the designated E-filling Unit of the Court.
“The E-Affidavit shall be in an electronic format with such specialized features as approved by the Court.
“The application shall be made online from the official website of the Court.
“The E-Affidavit software would be implemented by the E-filling Unit under the supervision of the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation).
“For the purpose of swearing to an E-Affidavit under this provision, a deponent to the E-Affidavit shall upload his application electronically through a platform approved by the Chief Judge” the FHC explained.
According to the statement, a task force shall be set up under the hand of the Chief Judge to give effect to this innovation, while the cost of each E-Affidavit shall be as approved and/or reviewed by the CJ from time to time. END.
