COURT TELECONFERENCE: The minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, has disclosed that court proceedings will now be held through teleconference.

Abubakar Malami  said the new development is to ensure that the judicial time lost to the COVID-19 lockdown is recovered.

The minister disclosed that judges will be sitting and maintaining social distance while lawyers would be interfacing with the courts through their digital devices.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Mohammed, had suspended all court sittings except in matters that are urgent, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, said technological tools would be used to conduct proceedings including virtual proceedings, which will allow justices/judges, parties and their counsel to connect through teleconference means.

In another report, the director-general, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has informed Nigerians that life won’t return to normal after COVID-19 pandemic.

Ihekweazu stated this while speaking on a radio programme in Lagos on Monday, 20th April.

He said that a return to the pre-COVID lifestyle, once the current restrictions are relaxed, could bring about a high resurgence of the virus.

The NCDC boss also advised business owners to adjust their business model such that it is compliant to social distancing and reduces the level of interaction among people.

He stressed that Nigerians must continue to adhere to precautionary measures of basic hygiene, respiratory etiquette, use of sanitisers.

Moreso, the Akwa Ibom state government has concluded modalities to embark on mass testing of its citizens for coronavirus.

The decision is due to the spike in the number of confirmed cases in the state in recent times.

As at Sunday, April 19, Akwa Ibom state had recorded 8 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Addressing newsmen, the chairman COVID-19 committee and secretary to the state government Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem noted that voluntary aggressive testing has become imperative in Akwa Ibom.