The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho has issued new practice direction on the payment of default fees on processes that were caught up with the JUSUN strike while it last. It is an equitable attempt to mitigate the effect of order 48 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2019.

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA (EXEMPTION OF PAYMENT OF DEFAULT FEES FOR FILING OF PROCESSES) PRACTICE DIRECTIONS (NO. 2)

2021

FOR THE PERIOD OF THE JUSUN STRIKE FROM APRIL 6, 2021 TO

JUNE 14, 2021

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FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA {EXEMPTION OF PAYMENT OF DEFAULT FEES FOR FILING OFPROCESSES) PRACTICE DIRECTIONS (NO.2) 2021

FOR THE PERIOD OF THE 2USUN STRIKE FROM APRIL 6, 2021

TO 2UNE 14, 2021

1. WHEREAS by the reason of the strike action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (Known as JUSUN strike) which affected Court

proceedings and filing of processes in Court for the period from the 6th day of April, 2021 to the 14th day of June, 2021.

1. AND WHEREAS it has become essential to make Practice Directions to provide guidelines for the computation of time for the payment of default fees for extension of time for filing of processes in the Federal High Court of Nigeria for that period.

Now therefore, I, John Terhemba Tsoho, The Honourable, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria pursuant to the powers conferred on me by Section 254 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and pursuant to the provisions of Order 48 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, hereby issue the following Practice Directions:

1. Computation    of    time    for    filing    of    court    processes    and payment of default fees for extension of time. Notwithstanding the provisions of Order 48 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 on computation of time for filing of Court processes or doing an act as provided by the Rules and payment of default fees for extension of time thereof, the

period covering the JUSUN strike action, being from the 6′h day of April, 2021 to the 14′h day of June, 2021, is hereby exempted.

1. APPLICABILITY

These Practice Directions shall, save to the extent or as may be otherwise directed by the Chief Judge, apply to both criminal and civil causes and matters in the Federal High Court.

1. CITATION

These Practice Directions shall be cited as the Federal High Court (Exemption of Payment of Default Fees for Filing of Processes) Practice Directions (No. 2) 2021.

COMMENCEMENT

These Practice Directions  shall come into effect from Tuesday,  the h day of June, 2021.

Dated this 11th day of June, 2021.

Hon. Justice 2ohn Terhemba Tsoho, FICMC The Honourable, The Chief Judge

Federal High Court of Nigeria