Some lawyers in Ekiti have decried the long “stay out of court” due to the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria’s strike.

The lawyers said the strike has caused pending cases in various courts in the state.

The lawyers spoke separately with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti.

One of the lawyers, Kehinde Omogbemigun, said the JUSUN strike had affected her pending cases at the Customary Court in Ado-Ekiti.

She cited a dissolution of marriage pending before the court since 2020 but already slated for judgment.

Ms Omogbemigun urged the judiciary and the state government to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the interest of the litigants.

Another lawyer, Michael Ogunsakin, said he was frustrated by the daily calls from his clients’ family. According to him, the clients were remanded in prison custody for “a minor offence.”

He said the court had granted them bail but were unable to perfect, which landed them in prison custody before JUSUN embarked on strike.

He appealed to the federal and state governments to look into the judicial staff agitation, saying financial autonomy is a simple request which was long overdue.

Temitayo Amao, another lawyer, urged both the governments to dialogue on the issue before it gets out of hand.

He decried the effects of the strike on the litigants, Courts and the economy of the country.

Mr Amao noted that the litigants are experiencing the worst challenge in this period, saying criminal matters had delayed the freedom of some persons in the correctional centres.

He added that on the issue of civil matter at the High court, “gone are the days when people say the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.”

On the other hand, a local chief, Gbenga Ogunrinde, said the strike affected his family’s land dispute pending before the court already slated for judgment.

Mr Ogunrinde said violence erupted among the family members following the lawsuit, which had claimed some lives.

Mr Ogunrinde added that the family was patiently waiting for the judgment before taking the next step.

Another local chieftain, Kayode Agunbiade, said the strike affected the community, saying that criminal acts have become rampant.

He pointed out that alleged offenders who were not bailable in the police station should be charged to court to face the wrath of the law but lamented that the strike had prevented that.