… regrets the bad condition of the courts, the lack of funds
As the judicial workers attack in the judicial activities of the State of Ondo, the Nigerian lawyers association (NBA) in the State of Ondo has emphasized the need for the state government to implement complete financial autonomy to ensure that justice is dispensed without fear and partiality in the state.
The position of the NBA was contained in a letter addressed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, which contains the statement of the association published at the end of its joint meeting on Thursday in Akure.
The letter was signed jointly by the leadership of the five branches in the state, namely; Onimisi Umar, President, NBA, Akure Branch; Omotola Odusola, President, NBA, Rama de Okitipupa; Henry AkingbeSote, President, NBA, Rama Ondo; Chief Kunie Ijalana, President, NBA, Owo Branch and Omotan Ogunmodede, President, NBA, Branch Ikare-Akoko.
The statement that was addressed to the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said that the Judiciary, as one of the weapons of the Government, is in the comma as a result of the closure of all courts in the State by the judicial state after the non -implementation of financial autonomy in the State.
The lawyers said in the statement that: “It is no longer news that all the courts in the State of Ondo have been under lock and keys since June 13, 2025, due to the industrial action embarked by the state chapter of the state of the Ondo de Nigeria (Jusun).
“Then, it is not an exaggeration that a government is currently not in its place in the State of Ondo due to the absence and visible collapse of the Judiciary, which is the third section in which the government is located.
“The visible absence of the Judiciary, if not revived decisively and urgently, precariously a state of anarchy, disorder, abuse of powers and growing insecurity throughout the State.”
The State NBA said that 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, as an independent arm of the Government as provided in sections 81 (3) (c), 121 (3) and 162 (9) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as he loved).
The NBA explained that the financial autonomy of the Judiciary is indispensable to maintain the independence and impartiality of the judicial system, which is a cornerstone of democracy and the rule of law.
“The financial autonomy of the Judiciary was well articulated and resolved by the Supreme Court in the case of the State of AG Abia and the Vag Federation (2022) Lpelr 57010 (SC); (2022) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1856) PG 205, where the state government of the State was part of the lawsuit.
“In that judgment, the Supreme Court sustained succinctly:“ He is a discouraging witness that eight (8) months after this, funds have not been released to save this ugly situation of the Judiciary, since the deplorable state of the state of our courts, well -being of magistrates, presidents of regular courts throughout the State and the processes to improve the justice delivery system is not horrible times.
“For example, the two rooms of the Superior Court in the Judicial Division of Okitipupa that were completely razed during the 'Endsars' protest have become a 'zoo' and a habitat for snakes, reptiles and other wild animals.
“It is worse that the two judges in the judicial division always have to squat in the magistrates room interchangeably before they can sit down to address the cases,” the statement added.
The association emphasized even more than in the Ondo judicial division, the epileptic state and the condition of the Superior Court of Justice within the division metaphorically portray the “injustice” to any innocent mind that goes to seek justice in court.
“The roof of all the higher courts and the magistrates courts in the division is shamefully bad and dripping.
“Every time it rains, it surpasses the litigants, judges and lawyers on their robes. The situation is so terrible that cubes are supplied to portions of sources with leaks to contain the drops of rainwater.
“Not only that, the furniture of the courts is damaged outside the repair to the extent that lawyers fight to find a seat before they can present their case.
“This is the same horrible situation in the judicial divisions of Owo and Ikare. The infrastructure in Akure's judicial division is also falling, and most magistrates do not have audience rooms to sit down,” he said.
Decrying the insufficiency of the provision to improvise to execute the records in all the judicial divisions of the State, the lawyers said that “there are no computer devices or stationery. Registrars and judicial employees take judicial files to the business centers before they can write and process official records of the courts, which are confidential and that they remain secret.”
The Association also rebuked an act of using the Judiciary for the Financial Government by the state government, saying: “We firmly believe that its excellence is aware that the Judiciary”, as a unique government of government, exists mainly to serve humanity by promoting access to justice and equity, and not generating money.
“The lack of defense of these principles can inevitably lead to chaos and disorder. We affirm, therefore, without ambiguity, that the recent prohibition of the manual presentation of new demands and introduction of the mandatory electronic presentation of the judicial processes administered by the Commission in the State of Ondo is a complete failure.
“As things are, N1,000 is collected as a service charge for each presentation made through the Commission, regardless of how insignificant the presentation is. In addition, all tariffs and presentation sanctions are now channeled directly to the Government of the State Government of Ondo.
“The creation of special oath records in all judicial divisions for the preparation and administration of sworn statements for deponents is a pointer that the judicial government in the State of Ondo is being transformed into an agency generating income by the government.
“We ask that its excellence resistant any attempt and promotion of marketing the Judiciary making it a commercial company or a conduit pipe to generate income for the Executive.
“We maintain that no more financial burden should be imposed on the masses as a ticket to obtain access to justice, since that will erode the intention of the right to access justice by any citizen according to the provisions of section 36 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” said the statement.
According to the statement, the members of the NBA in the State as the main interested parties, have not enjoyed any discernible benefit of the income generated by the Judiciary, particularly of the oath records in the judicial divisions of the State.
“The sad state of our courts, inadequate infrastructure and insufficient provision of the necessary supplies in court records remain obvious, better imagined issues of what is witnessed.
“Your excellence, the N400,000,000,000.00 only approved by you for the purchase of cars for magistrates has not been released by the Ministry of Finance since its approval on December 17, 2024. In addition, the fence of the official residence of the main judge has collapsed.
“This metaphorically symbolizes the present State of the State Judiciary. The reconstruction/renewal of the fence was budgeted consecutively for two years, but the Judiciary could not access this fund until it collapsed on Sunday, June 15, 2025.
“We are also aware that in the 2025 allocation law of the State of Ondo, 5,966,997,920 (five billion, nine hundred and sixty -six million, nine hundred ninety -seven thousand, nine hundred and twenty naira) only cover the capital and recurring spending that was assigned to the expenses of the judiciary in the fiscal year 2025.
“While N3,056,615,708 only covered capital and recurring expenses was assigned for the usual Court of Appeals.
“However, as in recent years, it is very frightening that to date, the Judiciary has not been able to access these funds or their income generated internally for use.
“As a result, the Judiciary is now struggling for survival when looking in and looking for other means to remain afloat, which invariably exploits the masses that seek justice and other judicial services.
“While we recommend its excellence by the judicial village that is being built in Akure, we affirm that such funds should have been delivered to the Judiciary to execute their projects itself. This is because the Judiciary knows where its shoe is furified more.
“It would be pretentious to the Government of the State of Ondo to affirm that the lack of release of money due to the Judiciary is the result of a shortage of funds.
“This is because all states are enjoying unexpected gain in the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The monthly allocation less received by the Government of the State of Ondo of the Federation account in this fiscal year since January 2025 is not less than N15,000,000,000 (fifteen billion naira), which is approximately four (4) times the allocation received in 2023.
“We remember the deep words of the late legal luminaire Sapara Williams, who declared:“ A lawyer lives for the direction of his people and the advance of the cause of his country.
“Therefore, as a professional organism whose slogan is for the defense of the rule of law, we cannot continue to keep silence in the face of the suffocation facing the Judiciary, which has deprived him of his autonomy and constitutional financial law, and prevented him from doing his duties.
“We believe that its excellence is not aware of the horrible state of the state of Ondo because no responsible government would have allowed this to continue. For this purpose, we request the release of the funds assigned to the Judiciary in the Law of Assignment of the State of Ondo, 2025.
“We also request that the state judiciary can enjoy its financial autonomy guaranteed by the Constitution and the decision of the Supreme Court mentioned above to guarantee complete judicial independence.
“We believe that this is a responsible and receptive government, which is worth the name of” government “, and is not happy to miss its third arm,” he listed.
However, the NBA expressed optimism that there would be a positive response from the state governor within the next 48 hours of receipt of the letter contained in the statement.
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