Members of the Nigerian Bar Association in Osun have dragged the Osun state government to court over the hike in court processes filing fees.
The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo was also joined in the suit which was brought before Justice Maureen Adaobi-Onyeten of the federal high court, in Osogbo the state capital.
Counsel to the NBA, Yinka Sokoya told to the court, that an application seeking to maintain status quo on the old filing regime and suspend the new one as directed by the state government has been filed.
” A circular was passed to us dated 24th of February 2017, signed by one Taiwo Jacob of High court of Osun-State which is part of the respondent “
“We have filed our motion and affidavit on 2nd March 2017 for maintainace of status quo and suspension of all action of proceedings and implementation of a circular dated 24th of February, 2017, pending the determination of the court”.
Sokoya prayed the court for a stand down of the circular.
Justice Maureen during the proceeding denied the request of the plaintiff and requested that the new filing fees circular be given to the court, for perusal.
While speaking after the sitting, the NBA chairman Ilesha Branch, Ebenezer Ogunfunminiyi said ” the battle between NBA and the state government is a battle of wit and we came here to so that the implementation of the circular that was been sent to us should not be implemented until court decide”
” The circular been sent to us is so bad that if you have a claim of N200 and an application wanted to be filed before the court the person have to pay N2,500 which made the fees so outrageous”
“Also, part of the content of the circular is the matrimonial course acts and rules which are Federal enactment, the Governor or even the Chief Justice of Osun-State can not make rules for Federal laws it is for the Chief Justice of Nigeria to makes courses for the matrimonial acts”
The case has been adjourned till tomorrow, 8th of march.
Members of the NBA in the state had embarked on strike since last Tuesday, over what they called obnoxious filing fees by the state government.
They accused the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola of deliberate attempt to make justice un-affordable for the common man.
