Grant full financial autonomy to judiciary, Ondo NBA tells Aiyedatiwa
By Boye Oyeyemi –
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Ondo State has called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to immediately implement full financial autonomy for the state judiciary, warning that the ongoing strike by judiciary workers has crippled the justice system and threatens law and order.
The NBA made its position known in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of its five branches held in Akure.
WESTERN POST reports that since June 13, 2025, courts across Ondo State have remained closed due to the strike action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), which is protesting the government’s failure to comply with constitutional provisions that guarantee the financial independence of the judiciary.
The NBA warned that the continued shutdown of courts poses a serious threat to governance, public safety, and access to justice.
The communiqué, addressed to Governor Aiyedatiwa, was signed by five NBA branch chairmen in the state: Onimisi Umar (Akure), Omotola Odusola (Okitipupa), Henry Akingbesote (Ondo), Chief Kunie Ijalana (Owo), and Omotan Ogunmodede (Ikare-Akoko).
The lawyers described the state judiciary as being in a comatose state, citing decayed infrastructure, lack of functional courtrooms, and overall neglect.
The association lamented the poor conditions in courts such as Okitipupa, where High Court buildings destroyed during the 2020 EndSARS protest remain unrepaired and now serve as habitats for wild animals.
They also pointed to the deplorable state of courtrooms in Ondo, Owo, Ikare, and Akure, where leaking roofs, damaged furniture, and lack of basic facilities have become the norm.
Also, the NBA decried the shortage of office materials in court registries, revealing that court staff rely on business centres to type official documents due to the absence of computers and stationery.
The association stressed that such practices undermine confidentiality and delay judicial processes.
Equally troubling, the NBA said, is the monetisation of judicial services through the mandatory e-filing system (COMIS), which imposes a flat N1,000 fee for all filings, regardless of amount or urgency.
They also criticised the state’s failure to release funds already approved in the 2025 budget, including N400 million for magistrates’ vehicles, despite rising federal allocations to the state.
However, the NBA urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to respond within 48 hours by releasing the judiciary’s funds and granting it full financial autonomy as mandated by the Constitution and affirmed by the Supreme Court.
The association warned that continued inaction would amount to complicity in weakening the judiciary and eroding the rule of law in the state.
