NBA Decries Inadequate Funding Of Oyo Judiciary

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, has decried inadequate funding of the judiciary and the non-functionality of Rent Tribunals and Customary Courts in Oyo State.

Chairman of the branch, Mr Ibrahim Lawal, stated this when he received the executives of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, who paid a courtesy visit to his office in Ibadan.

Lawal, who described the state of the judiciary in the state as unimpressive, said that NBA executives had on several occasions appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to address the challenges facing the judiciary, particularly the lower courts.

He said the governor had failed to inaugurate the Presidents of the Grace C Customary Courts in the last seven years, stressing that these were the courts that brought justice to the people at the grassroots.

Lawal said that the Customary Courts and rent tribunal courts had not been functional in the state, adding that there may be no economic development without strengthening the state’s justice system.

According to him, the Grace C Customary Courts last operated during the administration of the late governor Abiola Ajimobi, adding that it will be the joy of the NBA to see the state’s justice sector play its role effectively.

“Some Magistrates in the state don’t have official vehicles. We have said this repeatedly and made several representations to the government to address it.

“It is unacceptable that a magistrate who sits in judgment over criminals has to board the same bus as those same individuals.

“It is equally troubling that a magistrate without a personal vehicle may have to accept a ride from someone who has a case before them.

“This compromises both dignity and independence. We use this opportunity to appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde to urgently take action and address these challenges before leaving office.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Mr Yinka Adeniran, had solicited the NBA’s assistance in training members to improve their knowledge of reporting judicial matters.