The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, has condemned the Oyo State government over non-payment of three years’ rent allowances and the 2026 leave/vacation allowances to judges.

The Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Iyabo Yerima, had, in a letter addressed to Governor Seyi Makinde, requested the payment of the unpaid rent allowances for the years 2024, 2025 and 2026.

The letter with reference number OYSJ/ISY/RA/018, was dated June 5, 2026 and titled “Third reminder Re: Payment of Rent Allowances to Oyo State Judges for Year 2024, 2025, 2026 and Subsequent Months Provision.

According to the letter, the chief judge is entitled to a monthly rent allowance of N665,143, while other judges are entitled to N601,580 each.

In the other correspondence by Ms Yerima to Mr Makinde dated July 13, 2026, with reference number OYSJ/ISY/AJVA/017, request was also made for the payment of the 2026 judges vacation/leave allowance.

The NBA Ibadan chairman, Kola Kareem, said the non-payment of rent and other allowances by the Oyo State government showed that the executive arm has no regard for the judiciary.

“For the CJ to have written three letters asking for payment of rent allowances for judges, it shows that the government has no regard for both the bar and the bench,” the NBA chairman said.

Mr Kareem said it was unfair for the Oyo State government to be treating the judiciary as an extension of the civil service, which dictates how much to be paid and when to pay the workers.

He said that by the government’s actions it clearly shows that the judiciary was not independent.

According to him, the judiciary will continue not to be independent as long as it continues to be begging for its entitlement from the executive arm of government.

The NBA described as unconstitutional the unlawful withholding of the judiciary’s allocation which ought to have been paid.

“The problem the Oyo State Judiciary has is that they rely too heavily on the executive, and this doesn’t make them an independent organ.

“The capital and recurrent expenditure should be paid directly to the account of the judiciary and not the reverse where the judiciary begs for their entitlements,” he said.

Mr Kareem also took a swipe at the non-provision of secured residential quarters for judges in many states.

He contended that judges living in their private residences expose them to hazards.

“At Independence, Nigeria inherited the culture of judges living in judges’ quarters where the populace don’t have access to them.

“Those quarters have been sold by policemen, and I think the county should revert to that era of judges living in quarters,” he said.

The NBA chairman called on Mr Makinde to urgently pay the allowances so that judges in the state would be able to perform their duties effectively and also enjoy their annual vacation.

Efforts made to reach the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, to get his reaction proved futile. 

(NAN)