Lagos chairman satisfied with judiciary workers strike, lawyers plead

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Lagos State Branch on Tuesday expressed satisfaction at its members’ compliance with the ongoing strike.
The branch Chairman, Emmanuel Abioye, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos that the state recorded full compliance with the directive.
Abioye said: “The strike started on Friday, July 11 and it has been total in Lagos State.
“All courts in the state have been shut down in compliance with a directive issued by the National Executive Council of JUSUN.
“We will only call off the strike if we are directed to do so by the national body.”
NAN reports that JUSUN had in a communique issued on July 11 directed its members nationwide to shut down all state courts in the country.
The indefinite nationwide strike was to protest non-compliance of state governments to a court order, which compelled financial autonomy and independence of the judiciary.
The communique was jointly signed by the National President of the union, Marwan Adamu, and the General Secretary, Isaiah Adetola.
NAN reports that the premises of the Ikeja High Court has been under lock and looked deserted since Monday.
In the Badagry Division of the High Court of Lagos, the strike also paralysed judiciary activities in the magistrates’ and high courts.
A NAN correspondent who monitored the strike in Badagry reports that lawyers and litigants were loitering around the premises.
Some of the lawyers and litigants, who spoke to NAN, appealed to the association and the government to resolve their differences without delay in the interest of justice administration.
Chinedu Imoko, a lawyer, said that the strike has had a negative effect on justice delivery.
Imoko said: “As we all know, justice delayed is justice denied.
“This strike is delaying so many cases and this is not good.
“The government and the association should come together and put away their differences for the sake of justice.”
Another lawyer, Nike Adepoju, pleaded with the union to end the strike.
Adepoju said: “I understand the union but I think there are other ways to press for the demands to be met.
“Strike paralyses everything.
“Innocent people are affected.”
A litigant, Demola Badejo, told NAN: “I came all the way from Ojo.
“I went through hell because of traffic and all that.
“On getting here, I was told that the court is not sitting because of strike by judiciary workers.
“This is not fair at all because we are the ones suffering this.”
Lawyers across the country have also appealed for the strike to be called off.
Elias Agu, a legal practitioner in Enugu, Enugu State, said that the people in custody would feel the pinch of the ongoing judiciary workers’ strike
Agu said: “The people that will feel the pinch of this strike are those in custody.
“Other people who have matters in the court have their freedom, they can go home and relax, whenever the strike is over, they continue with their matters.
“We are calling on relevant agents of government to expedite action to see that issue is resolved once and for all.”
Agu said that lawyers would be immensely affected on the closure of court because of strike, noting that it is from court that majority of lawyers earn their daily living.
He added: “What it means is that lawyers will be staying at home until the strike is called off.
“We have our families and other people who get food on their table from us.
“I urge government and judiciary staff to resolve their problem before the end of this week.”
Another lawyer, Newman Ugwu, urged the government and the judiciary staff to put the interest of poor masses above their personal interest, saying lawlessness and anarchy take over the land if the court is shut down.
Ugwu said: “Judiciary is the last hope of a common man, so when it is not working, the society may be thrown into a state of lawlessness.
“Government should please listen to demands of judiciary staff so as to enhance the resolution of the crisis.
“Government should also consider the oppressed that are in custody, as the court remains their only hope.”
In a related development, some other Nigerians who have pending matters in court have also expressed worry over the judiciary strike.
One Sunday Uram said his son was arrested two weeks ago on allegation of defrauding his boss.
Uram said: “It is today his bail application could have been looked into.
“With this strike of judiciary staff, what it means he will continue to be in police custody until the strike is over.
“I beg government not to allow this strike to linger.”
Another respondent, Andy Ezeugwu, said that the judgment on his civil suit could have been delivered on Monday, but because of the strike he would not know when the judgment would come.
Ezeugwu said: “Judiciary is the last hope of a common man and government must strive to do everything possible to end the strike.
“Government and judiciary staff should resolve their misunderstanding for the interest of poor masses.”