The Chief Justice of the Federal High Court (FHC) Judge John Tsoho has issued a new practice guideline on exemption from payment of default fees for filing processes.
The development, according to a statement from Catherine Oby-Nwandu, FHC’s chief information officer, on Friday evening followed a return to work after the cancellation of the two-month strike by the Nigerian Judicial Staff Union (JUSUN ) Wednesday. .
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that on April 6, JUSUN closed all courts in the country to demand financial autonomy from state-level justice.
Although the class action was called off on Wednesday, June 9, the workers’ union ordered all of its members to return to work on Monday, June 14.
Judge Tsoho, in the declaration, therefore ordered that, notwithstanding the provisions of Order 48, Rule 4 of the Rules of Court, 2019, on the calculation of the time limit for completing legal proceedings as provided by the Rules and the payment of the default fee for extension of time, the period covering JUSUN’s strike action would be exempt.
The statement reads: “Following the resumption of work after the Nigeria Judicial Staff Union (JUSUN) strike from April 6, 2021 to June 14, 2021 which affected court proceedings and the filling of proceedings, the judge in Head of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, the Honorable Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, announces to the Hon. Judges, stakeholders and the general public, the essential need for a new practice guideline on EXEMPTION FROM PAYMENT OF DEFAULT FEES FOR DEPT PROCESSES calculation of the deadline for payment of default fees for the extension of the deadline for filing defaults process before the Federal High Court of Nigeria for the above period.
“By virtue of the powers conferred on it, it thus issues the following Practical Instructions:
“Calculation of the deadline for filing legal proceedings and payment of default costs for the extension of the deadline;
“Notwithstanding the provisions of Order 48, Rule 4 of the Rules of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure), 2019 on the Calculation of Time for Completing Legal Proceedings or Performing an Act as provided by the Rules and Payment of Costs default for the extension of the deadline, the period covering the strike action of JUSUN, from April 6, 2021 to June 14, 2021, is hereby exempt.
“APPLICABILITY; These Practice Directions shall apply, except to the extent or otherwise ordered by the Chief Justice, to criminal and civil cases and cases before the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
QUOTE; These practice guidelines will be cited as Federal High Court Practice Directions (Exemption from Payment of Default Fees for Filing Proceedings) (# 2) 2021.
“The practical instructions come into effect from Tuesday, June 15, 2021.”
