Lawyers in Ogun State began a three-day boycott of court activities on Monday to challenge what they called harmful policies introduced by the state's judicial authorities. The Nigerian Bar Association branches operating in Abeokuta, Sagamu, and Ota enforced the action, which disrupted court operations across several venues in the state.
The legal practitioners are opposing three key measures: a ₦100,000 charge for virtual court sessions, an increase in the oath administration fee from ₦200 to above ₦1,500, and a cap limiting lawyers to administering only four witness oaths daily.
In Abeokuta, Kayode Aderemi, the NBA branch chairman, led officials to ensure compliance at the Isabo courtroom and the state judiciary complex in Kobape. Many litigants and out-of-state lawyers found themselves stranded when proceedings halted.
Speaking to journalists, Aderemi explained that the boycott came after repeated failed efforts to dialogue with the judiciary's leadership and the Chief Judge. "These policies work against our members' interests and professional capacity," he told reporters.
He broke down the grievances one by one. The virtual hearing fee means litigants pay ₦100,000 per online session, he noted.
The oath fee jump from ₦200 to over ₦1,500 has sparked client complaints and created friction for lawyers, Aderemi added.
The restriction on witness oaths proved most troubling. "If a case requires 15 or more witnesses, how do we proceed with just four oaths daily?" Aderemi said.
"It cripples our ability to do our jobs properly."
He said compliance in the jurisdiction reached nearly 100 percent, though some visiting lawyers may have missed the notice. The boycott was expected to run for three days, he indicated.
Olakulehin Oke, the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, responded by saying the judiciary hadn't received formal notification from the NBA about any boycott. He defended the virtual hearing charge as necessary to sustain the technology.
"Building, maintaining, and running these systems demands serious investment," Oke told reporters. Nine of the state's 11 judicial divisions now have virtual courtrooms, and over 600 virtual hearings have taken place since launch, he said.
The registrar highlighted that witnesses have testified from Australia, Canada, and the United States through the system. "Many litigants have gained real benefits from this," Oke added.
On the oath fee increase, Oke linked it to the judiciary's shift toward digitalisation through an electronic affidavit system developed with a technology partner. Comparable systems exist in Oyo, Ondo, Rivers, the FCT, and Lagos, he noted.
Oke pointed out that Lagos charges less than Ogun because it processes far more cases as Nigeria's busiest judicial centre. This larger user base allows Lagos to keep fees lower, he explained.
