Lawyers in Ogun State on Monday, staged a three-day boycott of court proceedings to protest what they described as “inimical” policies introduced by the state judiciary.
TVP gathered that the boycott, enforced by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, branches in Abeokuta, Sagamu, and Ota, paralyzed judicial activities in some courts across the state.
The lawyers are kicking against a ₦100,000 fee for virtual hearings, an increase in oath administration fee from ₦200 to over ₦1,500, and restrictions limiting lawyers to processing only four witness oaths per day.
In Abeokuta, NBA Chairman, Kayode Aderemi, led officials of the branch to enforce compliance at courtrooms in Isabo and the state judiciary complex in Kobape.
Litigants and lawyers from outside the state were caught unawares, leaving many stranded.
Addressing journalists, Aderemi said the boycott became necessary after failed attempts to engage the judiciary leadership and the Chief Judge.
“The boycott is in protest against certain policies of the Ogun State Judiciary, which we believe are inimical to the interests of our members,” he said.
“First, the payment of a ₦100,000 virtual hearing fee. This means any litigant who wishes to have a matter heard virtually must pay ₦100,000 for each session.
“Second, the increase in oath administration fee from ₦200 to over ₦1,500. Our clients have complained about this and it has also affected us as lawyers who are constantly being questioned.
“Third, lawyers cannot process more than four witness oaths in a single day. If I have 15 or more witnesses in a case, what happens? This unjustifiably limits our ability to carry out our professional duties,” Aderemi added.
He noted that compliance within the jurisdiction was almost 100 per cent, though “a few lawyers from outside may not have been aware.”
Reacting, the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, Olakulehin Oke, said the judiciary had not received any official communication from the NBA regarding the boycott.
Justifying the ₦100,000 virtual sitting fee, Oke said technology comes with a cost.
“Establishing, maintaining, and operating virtual court facilities requires significant investment. Since the introduction, virtual courtrooms have been installed in nine of the 11 judicial divisions and over 600 virtual hearings have been conducted.
“We have had witnesses testify from Australia, Canada, and the United States. Many litigants have benefited,” he said.
On the oath fee hike, Oke explained it followed the digitalisation of the judiciary through an electronic affidavit system in partnership with a tech company.
He added that similar systems operate in Oyo, Ondo, Rivers, FCT and Lagos, noting that “only Lagos charges less than Ogun because it has a larger volume of users as the busiest judicial jurisdiction in Nigeria.”
TVP reports that the boycott is expected to last three days
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