The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, has decried inadequate funding of the judiciary and the non-functionality of Rent Tribunals as well as Customary Courts in the state.

Chairman of the branch, Ibrahim Lawal, stated this when receiving the executives of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, who paid a courtesy visit to his office on Saturday in Ibadan.

Mr Lawal, who described the state of the judiciary in the state as unimpressive, said that the NBA executives had on several occasions appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to address the challenges facing the judiciary in the state, particularly the lower courts.

He said that the governor, in the last seven years, had failed to inaugurate the Presidents of the Grade C Customary Courts, stressing that these were the courts that brought justice to the people at the grassroots.

Mr Lawal said that the Customary Courts and Rent Tribunal Courts had not been functional in the state, adding that there may not be any economic development without strengthening its justice system.

According to him, the Grade C Customary Courts last operated during the administration of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi and that it would be the joy of the NBA to see the state justice sector playing its role effectively.

“Some Magistrates in the state don’t have official vehicles. We have said this repeatedly and made several representations to the government to address it.

“It is unacceptable that a magistrate who sits in judgment over criminals has to board the same bus as those same individuals.

“It is equally troubling that a magistrate without a personal vehicle may have to accept a ride from someone who has a case before them.

“This compromises both dignity and independence.

“We use this opportunity to appeal to Gov. Seyi Makinde to urgently take action and address these challenges before leaving office.

“The condition of our courts is also deeply concerning, particularly the Magistrates’ and the state Customary Courts of Appeal.

“Many of them are in poor condition with no comfort for those working there.

“These judicial officers are our colleagues and deserve better treatment,” Mr Lawal said.

The NBA chairman also said that electricity supply to the Customary Court of Appeal was recently disconnected by IBEDC due to unpaid electricity bills.

This, he said, showed the level of neglect in the state judiciary.

Mr Lawal further said that the situation in the State Ministry of Justice was equally disturbing and did not reflect the standard expected of such an institution.

He said that staff at the state Ministry of Justice sometimes appealed to some individuals for basic support to run the ministry.

“For instance, the generator currently in use was donated by a private individual, and the law library, once in a deplorable state, was refurbished through private intervention,” he said.

The chairman added that the level of neglect extended across various sections of the state judiciary.

According to him, the conditions of the courts outside Ibadan were even worse, with inadequate transportation allowances and reduced salaries for judicial staff.

He said Mr Makinde might have performed well in other sectors in the state, but had clearly not prioritised reform in the state judiciary.

The chairman said that the ongoing court construction project at the state High Court Complex, Ring Road, Ibadan, remained uncompleted.

Mr Lawal also said that the appointment of judges in the state judiciary had been slowed as basic provisions such as official vehicles were often delayed.

“The bar will continue to advocate for both the bench and the public. Our goal is to strengthen the justice system and uphold the rule of law.

“We will continue to speak out because judges themselves cannot. We remain committed to advocating for a better judiciary and will continue to speak out until meaningful reforms are achieved,” he said.

Mr Lawal pledged the commitment of the bar to collaborating with the media in areas of training to better equip journalists covering legal matters to better understand court processes and terminology.

Earlier, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Yinka Adeniran, had solicited the NBA’s assistance in training members in order to improve their knowledge in reporting judiciary matters. 

(NAN)