The Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has directed judges in the Lagos State Judiciary not to remand accused persons in jail except when their offence is non-bailable.
Justice Alogba gave the directive on Monday in a statement signed by Chief Registrar, Mrs D. T. Olatokun.
He directed the judges handling criminal matters in the state’s courts to turn down police applications for remand order for non-capital offences.
The chief judge said judges were only to grant remand orders in respect of serious crimes like terrorism, murder, armed robbery and other non-bailable offences, most of which carry the death penalty.
According to the judge, the directive took a cue from another one issued by the Inspector General of Police which directed policemen against arrest and detention of suspects except when absolutely necessary.
“The directive shall continue for an initial period of 14 days or until further directive is issued,” Justice Alogba said.
The Herald can report that Lagos State is the worst hit by coronavirus in the country.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) stated on Monday night that Lagos has recorded 28 out of the 40 cases in the country.
Recall that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday directed the state’s civil servants from Level 1 – 12 to work from home as a way of curbing the spread of the virus.
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