“Judiciary is a service, not money a making sector”, tells Ondo governor, Aiyedatiwa”.

The five branches of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) in Ondo State has come together to stressed the need for the state government to implement financial autonomy in the judiciary that will  ensure that justice is dispensed without fear and partiality.

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in Ondo State embarked on an indefinite strike on June 13 over non-implementation of financial autonomy by the state government.

The NBA made this known in a communique after the meeting of its branches in Akure on Friday. The communique was jointly signed by the leadership of the five branches in the state, namely: Mr Onimisi Umar, Chairman, NBA, Akure Branch; and Mr Omotola Odusola, Chairman, NBA, Okitipupa Branch.

Others are: Mr Henry Akingbesote, Chairman, NBA, Ondo Branch; Chief Kunle Ijalana, Chairman, NBA, Owo Branch; and Mr Omotan Ogunmodede, Chairman, NBA, Ikare-Akoko Branch.

The association said that the judiciary, as one of the arms of government is in comatose as a result of the shutdown of courts in the state by JUSUN over non-implementation of financial autonomy in the state.

“It is no longer news that all the courts in Ondo State have been under lock and keys since June 13th, 2025, due to the industrial action embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Ondo State Chapter.

“The visible absence of the judiciary, if not decisively and urgently revived, will precariously precipitate a state of anarchy, disorderliness, abuse of powers, and rising insecurity across the State,” it stated.

According to the association, JUSUN’s strike is precipitated by the persistent failure of the state government to comply with the constitutional requirement of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

The NBA quoted Sections 81(3)(c), 121(3) and 162(9) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) for giving full autonomy to the judiciary.

The association explained that financial autonomy of the judiciary is indispensable for maintaining the independence and impartiality of the judicial system, which is the cornerstone of democracy and the rule of law.

The association lamented that in all Judicial Divisions, the epileptic state and condition of the courts portrayed ‘injustice’ to any innocent mind that will come to seek justice.

The NBA also decried inadequacy of provision for impress to run the registries across all the judicial divisions in the state.

“There are no computer gadgets or stationery.

“Registrars and court clerks take court files to business centres before they can type and process official records of the courts, which are confidential and ought to be kept secret,” it said.

The association also berated an act of using judiciary for financial gain by the state government.

“We firmly believe that Your Excellency, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is aware that the judiciary’, as a unique arm of government, exists primarily to serve humanity by promoting access to justice and equity, and not to generate money.

“The failure to uphold these principles may inevitably lead to chaos and disorder.

“We state, therefore, without equivocation, that the recent prohibition of manual filing of new suits and introduction of mandatory E-filing of Court processes managed by COMIS in Ondo State is a complete sham.

“As it is, N1,000.00 is levied as a service charge for every filing done through COMIS, no matter how negligible the filing is. Also, all filing fees and penalties are now channelled directly to the pool of the Ondo State Government.

“The creation of special Oaths Registries across all Judicial Divisions for the preparation and administration of Affidavits for deponents is a pointer that the judiciary in Ondo State is being transformed into a revenue- generating agency by the government.

“We ask that your Excellency resist any attempt and urge to commercialise the Judiciary by turning it into a business enterprise or a conduit pipe to generate revenue for the executive.

“We submit that more financial burden should not be imposed on the masses as a ticket to gaining access to justice, as that will erode the intendment of the right to access to justice by any citizen as provided in Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” NBA said.

According to the association, members as major stakeholders have not enjoyed any discernible benefits from the revenue generated by the judiciary, particularly from the Oath Registries across the state’s judicial divisions.

It stated that judiciary is currently scrambling for survival in the state by looking inwards and seeking other means to stay afloat, thereby exploiting the masses who would seek justice and other judicial services.

“While we commend Your Excellency for the Judicial Village being built in Akure, we submit that such funds should have been given to the judiciary to execute its projects itself. This is because the judiciary knows where its shoe pinches most.

“It would be pretentious for the government of Ondo State to claim that the failure to release the monies due to the judiciary is a result of a paucity of funds. This is because all states are enjoying a windfall in the current administration of President Bola Tinubu,” the communique concluded.

(NAN)

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