Osogbo Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Yemi Abiona has conveyed the displeasure of legal practitioners in Osun State over the continued closure of courts.
The closure of courts is occasioned by the indefinite industrial action declared by the Osun State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN.
Abiona also revealed that the leadership of the NBA in the state recently met with the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada on the issues.
“We are not happy because we never envisaged that the industrial action will last up till now.
“We are doing everything possible to make sure that the government meets up with the demands, at least a substantial part for JUSUN to call off the strike as soon as possible.
“We are also making the government see reasons they should support the caretaker committee set up by the JUSUN national body and the caretaker committee, in line with its mandate, to call off the strike.
“We don’t know why the government is not that comfortable working with the caretaker committee that was mandated to suspend the strike.
“We have made the government realise this and they promised to work on it. We are still engaging and by God’s grace, we hope that the court will be opened soonest,” he said.
Oluwagbemiga Olakunle Eludire, the erstwhile Osun JUSUN chairman had on November 22, 2023, declared an indefinite strike.
Eludire directed the Osun court workers to proceed on strike after policemen tear-gassed JUSUN members who were protesting and picketing the state High Court in Osogbo.
The incident occurred as the police were protecting the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo from being physically assaulted.
The Osun JUSUN had accused Justice Adepele Ojo of abuse of office and high-handedness.
But a memo dated December 27, 2023, with reference number: JUSUN/NHQ/SUB: 27/ Vol. 1/165, signed by M. J. Akwashiki, for the General Secretary of the national leadership of JUSUN, addressed to Eludire, dissolved the Osun JUSUN Executive Committee led by Eludire.
However, the courts have remained closed over two months despite the memo ordering the suspension of the strike.
