The Abeokuta Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has directed its members to boycott court proceedings for three days in protest against what it described as contentious policies introduced by the Ogun State Judiciary.
In a statement issued on Monday by the branch’s Publicity Secretary, Abdulbasit Shuaib, the association said the industrial action would take place from July 6 to July 8, covering the High Court, Appellate Customary Court, Magistrates’ Courts and Customary Courts in Abeokuta.
The NBA said the decision followed several unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issues through meetings, correspondence and consultations with relevant judicial authorities.
According to the association, its major concerns include the implementation of the Four-Oaths-Per-Day policy, a sharp increase in the cost of filing oaths, and the introduction of a virtual court sitting fee.
It stated that the filing fee for oaths had risen from ₦200 to more than ₦1,500, representing an increase of about 650 per cent, a development it described as excessive and burdensome for legal practitioners and litigants.
The association also faulted the introduction of a ₦100,000 fee for each virtual court sitting, arguing that the charge places additional financial pressure on lawyers and their clients while undermining effective legal representation.
According to the statement, the combined effect of the new policies has created significant obstacles to legal practice and negatively impacted access to justice in Ogun State.
The branch maintained that the measures have the potential to weaken the administration of justice by making court processes more expensive and less accessible.
Consequently, the NBA directed all its members practising within Abeokuta to stay away from proceedings in the affected courts throughout the three-day boycott.
Despite the planned action, the association reiterated its willingness to engage with the Ogun State judiciary in search of an amicable resolution.
“The branch remains committed to constructive engagement with the Ogun State Judiciary and is ready to embrace genuine efforts to resolve these issues,” the statement said.
The boycott is expected to disrupt judicial activities in Abeokuta during the period, as legal practitioners withdraw their services in protest against the contested policies.
