Thread by @TransparencITng

Following the decision of the Supreme Court to strike out suits filed by Lagos & Ekiti States on the constitutionality of virtual court sittings as premature and speculative, we did an analysis of Lagos State High Court virtual court sessions from May to June, 2020.

#Thread

The State High Court conducted 98 virtual court sessions (28 in May and 70 in June).

We observe that 95 cases are decision sessions that require little or no input from counsels, while only 3 cases had full hearing.

57 - judgments
38 - rulings
3 - adoption & hearings

The virtual court sessions have aided the delivery of 57 judgements that would have been stalled due to the #COVID19 pandemic.

Hon. Justice S. A. Onigbanjo of the State High Court conducted the highest virtual court sessions between May and June, 2020, representing 24 sessions from the total of 98 sessions.

See number of remote court session by Judges

From the 98 court sessions, a judgement was delivered in a case that commenced since 2004 (16 years), Promomtel Ltd vs IHS Ltd.

In the first virtual court session held on 4/5/2020, the Court sentenced one Olalekan Hameed, who was accused of murder, to death by hanging.

The classification of cases conducted remotely by Lagos State High Court between May and June, 2020:

• 51 civil cases

• 46 criminal cases

Total: 98

Is the remote court accessible to the public?

The remote court is open to the public, and interested parties can join court session or watch live stream via @zoom_us or @YouTube at lagosstate.remote-court.com/public/html/ca…

CORRECTED:

• 51 civil cases

• 47 criminal cases

Total: 98