The National Industrial Court, where labor disputes are usually resolved, was also under lock and key amid fears that the government may be seeking an order to arrest the strike.
From the Supreme Court to the Court of Appeal, it was like a ghost town. The Federal High Court and the FCT High Court were also locked, with lawyers who had come to have their cases heard being barred from entering the premises.
As of Sunday, there were moves suggesting the federal government may initiate a case to stop the strike. This followed a letter by the Federal Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, warning that the proposed strike is illegal due to non-compliance with statutory requirements and a court order issued in June 2023.
The impact of the court closure will be felt by both lawyers and litigants, further slowing down the already slow judicial system in the country. For the judges, they will have to deal with a pile of pending cases and the pressure to assign new dates.