Lawyers Shun Court in Osun Over Increased Filing Fees

ENTRANCE OF THE OSUN STATE HIGH COURT, OSOGBO

Activities at the Osun state high court were on Tuesday paralysed  following a peaceful protest by members of the Nigeria Bar Association, Osun state branch, against what they described as Commercialization of Justice

The association called out its members to protest what it called unilateral and arbitrary increment in filling fees.

A circular signed by the Principal Registrar of the state high court, Taiwo Jacob had announced increment in filling fees with immediate effect.

The chairman of the the Osogbo branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, Asafa Sanusi, said with the increment,  to fill a writ of summon has now been increased from #4,000 to  #40,000 while a divorce petition has also jumped from #3, 000 to #25,000

NBA CHAIRMAN, OSOGBO BRANCH, ASAFA SANUSI ADDRESSING JOURNALISTS

He said this is unacceptable to the NBA and will not allow the new fee regime to effected.

Sanusi said lawyers will not attend courts until the state government reverts to the old fees.

The Chief Registrar, Lawrence Arojo was not available as the time of filing this report while the permanent secretary, ministry of justice, Bimbiola Adewemimo said government will react on the development later.