By our Reporter
Judicial activities across Ogun State were grounded on Monday as lawyers embarked on a three-day boycott of court proceedings in protest against what they described as unfavourable policies introduced by the state judiciary, including a ₦100,000 fee for virtual court hearings.
The industrial action, led by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), witnessed widespread compliance at court premises across the state, leaving litigants and legal practitioners stranded.
Chairman of the NBA in Ogun State, Kayode Aderemi, led officials to enforce the boycott at the Isabo High Court and the state judiciary complex in Kobape.
Speaking with journalists, Aderemi said the action was in response to policies the association believes are detrimental to the interests of lawyers and litigants.
“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.
Among the issues raised by the lawyers is the introduction of a ₦100,000 fee for every virtual court hearing, which they argued places an additional financial burden on litigants seeking justice.
The lawyers also faulted the increase in the fee for oath administration from ₦200 to more than ₦1,500, as well as a new policy limiting lawyers to processing only four witness oaths per day, irrespective of the number of witnesses involved in a case.
Reacting to the protest, the Chief Registrar of the Ogun State Judiciary, Olakulehin Oke, defended the policies, saying the charges were necessary to support ongoing judicial reforms and digitalisation.
According to him, the ₦100,000 virtual hearing fee covers the cost of establishing and maintaining the technology required for virtual court proceedings.
He disclosed that more than 600 virtual hearings had already been successfully conducted in the state, with witnesses participating remotely from countries including Australia, Canada and the United States.
Oke also explained that the increase in oath administration fees was part of the judiciary’s digitalisation of affidavit services, noting that similar systems are already operational in Oyo, Ondo, Rivers, Lagos States and the Federal Capital Territory.
The three-day boycott is expected to continue across Ogun State, with legal practitioners insisting that the contentious policies be reviewed in the interest of access to justice and the smooth administration of the courts.
