By Peace Udugba
Lawyers in Ogun State have resumed court proceedings following the expiration of a three-day boycott organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) branches in Abeokuta, Sagamu and Ota, even as the association renewed its call for the Ogun State Judiciary to review what it described as excessive court charges and restrictive policies.
The warning boycott, which lasted from July 6 to July 8, was staged to protest the introduction of a N100,000 fee for virtual court sittings, increased affidavit charges and a policy restricting lawyers to filing a maximum of four affidavits daily.
Speaking on Thursday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, the Chairman of the NBA Ota Branch, Aderemi, confirmed that the industrial action had ended as scheduled.
“The boycott has ended. We gave the required notice and fixed the dates. It was a three-day action, and lawyers have returned to court,” he said.
He, however, stressed that the association remained open to dialogue with the Ogun State Judiciary, revealing that respected senior members of the legal profession were already making efforts to broker peace between both parties.
According to him, the boycott was the outcome of months of consultations and unsuccessful engagements with judicial authorities over policies that members believe have increased the cost of litigation and hindered access to justice.
Aderemi said the NBA branches in Abeokuta, Sagamu and Ota had repeatedly raised concerns through meetings, formal letters and consultations with the judiciary, but received no satisfactory response.
He disclosed that several senior lawyers and stakeholders from within and outside Ogun State had since intervened, expressing a willingness to facilitate a resolution through dialogue.
“We have received several calls and interventions from respected elders across the country. While discussions are ongoing, there is no definite timeline yet for resolving the issues,” he said.
The NBA chairman identified three major policies at the centre of the dispute, beginning with the N100,000 fee charged for each virtual court sitting.
While reaffirming the association’s support for the digitalisation of the judiciary, he argued that the fee was excessive and placed an unnecessary burden on litigants.
He also criticised the increase in affidavit fees following the introduction of the electronic affidavit system, noting that the minimum charge had risen from N200 to N1,500.
In addition, Aderemi faulted the policy restricting lawyers to filing only four affidavits daily, describing it as an administrative obstacle capable of delaying cases and exposing litigants to additional costs where statutory filing deadlines are missed.
He maintained that the NBA’s objective was not to confront the judiciary but to draw public attention to policies that could undermine access to justice.
“Our goal is not to force the hands of the judiciary. It is to ensure that the public understands the implications of these policies,” he said.
According to him, the protest succeeded in generating nationwide attention, with several national television stations and media organisations highlighting the concerns raised by the association.
Aderemi proposed that the N100,000 virtual hearing fee should be reduced to N25,000 per case, while the minimum affidavit fee should be reviewed downward from N1,500 to N500. He also called for the immediate removal of the restriction limiting lawyers to filing four affidavits daily.
He further claimed that Ogun State currently has the highest virtual hearing fee in the country, stating that Lagos charges N30,000 for similar proceedings, while some states do not impose additional fees for virtual hearings beyond internet access.
Rejecting suggestions that the increased charges were intended to boost internally generated revenue, Aderemi insisted that the judiciary should be adequately funded through statutory government allocations rather than placing heavy financial burdens on court users.
“The judiciary should never be seen as a revenue-generating institution,” he said.
On the possibility of further industrial action, Aderemi said the next step would depend entirely on the decision of NBA members during their next meeting.
He nevertheless reaffirmed the association’s commitment to dialogue, expressing optimism that ongoing interventions by senior legal practitioners would pave the way for an amicable resolution of the dispute.
