The Senate on Tuesday passed for first reading, a Constitution alteration bill seeking for legalisation of virtual court proceedings.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) during plenary.

The bill was entitled “1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 418).

A copy of the draft bill made available to news men was aimed at ensuring the corresponding amendment of relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, in giving legal teeth to virtual court proceedings.

The provisions of the bill as contained in the draft copy, include Section 36 sub-section (3) which states thus ” this section is hereby amended by the addition of the following:

” Provided that nothing in this subsection shall invalidate proceedings of a court or that of a tribunal relating to matters mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.

” (including the announcement of the decisions of the court or tribunal) where same is held by remote hearing or any virtual means now in existence or yet to be developed.

“Section 36 subsection (4) is hereby amended by addition of sub-paragraph (c) as follows: (c) nothing in the foregoing paragraphs shall invalidate proceedings of a court or the proceedings of a tribunal relating to matters mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.

“Including the announcement of the decisions of the court or tribunal where same is held by remote hearing or any virtual means now in existence or yet to be developed.

“Section 36 subsection (12) is hereby amended by addition of the following subsection (13): In this section, “remote hearing” means proceedings or hearing of court conducted via zoom, skype, whatsapp video or any other social media platform or technological innovation”.

The drafter of the bill explains further that section 36 (3) is sufficiently controversial enough now in terms of requirement of public hearing and determination of disputes.

This, according to Bamidele, endangers the results of proceedings eventually held virtually except the amendment is done urgently, the whole judicial functions of the nation will remain paralysed.

“The bill being an urgently needed one needs to be given expeditious consideration and passage .

” It is s a case of emergency now. Upon second Reading, the states can be given three days to make returns so that before the end of the month, the process is completed.

“The National Judicial Council (NJC) in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic and the inability of courts to hold courtroom proceedings, had taken steps to ensure continued administration of justice.

”Which is through virtual proceedings in accordance with global best practices, with some state Chief Judges coming out to openly adopt and implement the NJC guidelines.

“However, lawyers have been divided over this issue as there has been an ongoing debate among legal practitioners as to whether or not virtual hearing is real hearing as provided for in the Constitution.

“While some are insisting that the word “public” in the Constitution shall continue to mean  physical court room or other designated place unless and until the relevant provisions in section 36 of the Constitution are amended”, he said .

However, Bamidele, member of the Body of Benchers, said that in the meantime, the NJC had a responsibility to work with stakeholders to manage the current situation.

“Until we rewrite our Constitution in this regard as neither the practice direction, rules of court, nor an Act of the National Assembly can change the legal position so that we do not bury our heads in the sand.(NAN)