Lawyers Begin 3-Day Court Boycott In Ogun Over Unfavourable Policies

Lawyers in the Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have commenced a three-day boycott of court proceedings to protest what they described as anti-lawyer policies by the state judiciary.

The boycott, which began yesterday will end tomorrow and affects proceedings across all divisions of the court.

The NBA said the action followed the judiciary’s refusal to address concerns over several policies, which included the introduction of a N100, 000 fee for every virtual court sitting; an increase in the cost of administering affidavits from N200 to over N1,500 and the restrictions on lawyers to process only four general affidavits daily.

The NBA lamented that the policies had made legal practice more difficult, increased litigation costs for clients and undermined access to justice in the state.

The NBA, however, issued a directive directing all lawyers to stay away from all court proceedings for the 3 days.

After monitoring compliance with the boycott at the Magistrates’ Court in Isabo area of the Abeokuta metropolis and the High Court at Kobape, along the Abeokuta – Sagamu Expressway, the Chairman of the NBA, Abeokuta Branch, Chief Kayode Aderemi, said the action became inevitable when all repeated efforts to engage the judiciary failed.

“We are here today because members of our branch, by resolution at our branch meeting, agreed to embark on a three-day court boycott beginning today through 8 July.

“The boycott is in protest against certain policies of the Ogun State Judiciary, which we believe are inimical to the interests of our members and the administration of justice,” he said.

Aderemi identified the ₦ 100,000 virtual hearing fee as a major concern, arguing that the charge imposes an unnecessary financial burden on litigants.

“Any litigant who wishes to have a matter heard virtually must now pay ₦100,000 for each virtual session. We consider this excessive and capable of discouraging access to justice,” he stated.

On the increase in affidavit fees, the NBA chairman said clients had continued to express dissatisfaction over the sharp rise in charges.

“The oath administration fee has increased from ₦200 to over ₦1,500. Our clients have consistently complained about this increase, and legal practitioners are constantly being called upon to explain the rationale behind it.”

He also faulted the policy that restricts lawyers to processing only 4 general affidavits per day.

“If a lawyer has 15 or more clients requiring affidavits, what happens? We believe this policy unjustifiably limits lawyers in carrying out their professional responsibilities.”

Aderemi disclosed that the NBA had exhausted all available avenues to resolve the dispute before embarking on the industrial action.

“We have written several letters as a branch. Other  BA branches in Ogun State have also written. We have raised these issues repeatedly during Bar and Bench meetings attended by branch chairpersons, branch secretaries, administrative judges and the Chief Judge.

“Senior members of the Bar have also intervened by approaching Their Lordships in an effort to resolve these concerns. Unfortunately, all these efforts have yielded no positive outcome.”

He added that the NBA branches in Abeokuta, Ota and Sagamu were observing the boycott.