Outage: Lagos judges use torchlights in court

    
The power outage which affected some courtrooms within the Ikeja High Court Complex on Thursday forced two judges to conduct proceedings using torchlights.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the court, following persistent cuts in public power supply, had relied solely on two generating sets.

One of the generators supplying power to over 10 of the courtrooms in the new court complex, however, developed a fault on Thursday morning.

The development forced several courts to adjourn their cases listed for hearing.

Two of the judges, Justices Adeniyi Onigbanjo and Kudirat Jose, however, opted to use torchlights, which were made available by their registrars.

Some of the lawyers who appeared before them also resorted to using the dim lights emanating from their mobile phones to read their pleadings.

However, both judges only managed to sit for less than an hour, due to the uncomfortable situation.

Speaking to NAN correspondent after the proceedings, a lawyer, Mr Abu Hamza, said the situation was frustrating for both lawyers and litigants.

Another lawyer, Mrs Uche Emenike, said she came all the way from Ikoyi to handle her client’s case.

“It is just a complete waste of time and the Lagos State Judiciary should address this problem urgently,” Emenike said.

A reliable source told journalists that the court premises had been disconnected from the former Power Holding Company of Nigeria before it was dissolved.

The official said that the court authorities took the decision following huge bills that were sent to the court even when there was no electricity supply for weeks.