The Ogun State Judiciary has defended the process that led to the introduction of its digital justice reforms, insisting that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was adequately consulted before the implementation of the policies that triggered a three-day boycott by some of its branches.
Chief Registrar of the Ogun State High Court, Olakulehin Luqman Oke, made the clarification during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu.
Oke said the judiciary followed due process by engaging the NBA before amending the High Court Civil Procedure Rules and introducing virtual court proceedings and electronic affidavit services.
According to him, draft copies of the amended rules, including provisions on virtual hearings and the controversial ₦100,000 virtual hearing fee, were circulated to all five NBA branches in Ogun State for comments and input before implementation.
He expressed surprise that the Abeokuta, Sagamu and Ota branches of the NBA announced their boycott through a press statement without formally notifying the judiciary.
“The legal profession is guided by principles, procedures and mutual respect. While the NBA has the right to embark on a boycott, courtesy required that the judiciary be formally informed before such action was taken,” Oke said.
The Chief Registrar disclosed that the Bar and Bench Forum, which comprises judicial leaders and NBA representatives, met three times this year—in January, May and June—to discuss issues affecting the justice sector, including the digital reforms.
He said discussions at the June meeting ended with both parties agreeing to continue consultations, making the subsequent boycott unexpected.
Oke also revealed that the judiciary organised four sensitisation webinars ahead of the February 2026 rollout of the Ogun Court Management Information System (Ogun CoMis), with invitations extended to lawyers across Ogun State and beyond.
Addressing concerns over restrictions on electronic affidavits, Oke explained that the daily limit of four filings applies only to general affidavits, such as declarations of age, change of name and marriage declarations, which are generated from standard templates and can be processed without legal representation.
He stressed that affidavits connected to active court cases, including verifying affidavits and witness statements on oath, remain unrestricted and can be filed without limitation by legal practitioners.
According to him, the restrictions were introduced to curb fraud and eliminate the widespread use of forged affidavits that flourished under the manual system.
On the ₦1,500 electronic affidavit fee, Oke said Ogun’s charges are comparable with those in several states operating similar digital platforms, including Rivers, Bayelsa and the Federal Capital Territory.
He acknowledged that Ogun’s ₦100,000 virtual hearing fee may be among the highest in the country but argued that it reflects the cost of providing an efficient digital court system.
The Chief Registrar also defended the increase in oath fees from ₦200 to ₦1,500, saying the previous rate had remained unchanged for more than a decade despite changing economic realities.
He urged members of the legal profession to embrace reforms aimed at improving the administration of justice, adding that further engagement with the NBA is expected when the new legal year begins in September after the court’s annual vacation.
