CJN, Judges, Others Locked Out

Justice Mahmoud Mohammed taking the oath of office (Photo: dailyindependentonline.com)

The Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, justices of the Supreme Court and other judges of lower courts were denied access to their offices yesterday as judiciary workers began an indefinite strike nationwide.

New Telegraph reports the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had called out the workers on strike to press its demand for autonomy for the judiciary. The workers barricaded the entrance to the Supreme Court like they did those of the other courts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of the country.

JUSUN National President, Mr. Mustapha Adamu, who led other union officials to monitor the strike, prevented Justice Mohammed and his colleagues from getting access to their offices.

Also, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the gates were locked, preventing lawyers, litigants and journalists from entering. The situation was not different at the headquarters of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama.

The gate was locked, while some staff members were seen outside discussing the implication of the strike, especially as it was the first working day in the year. An official of the union, who pleaded for anonymity, said the strike was indefinite, adding that the union will not call off the strike until its demands are met.

The industrial action also paralyzed activities at both the state and Federal High Courts in Lagos as courts, which were billed to resume proceedings yesterday after the Christmas and New Year vacation, were under lock and key.

At the Federal High Court in Lagos, the Deputy Chief Registrar of the FHC, Mr. Bello Okandeji, urged workers to return to their home peacefully to avoid chaos. Activities at the National Industrial Court (NIC) were also stalled as members of the union directed court workers to stop work in compliance with the industrial action.

The Igbosere High Court was under lock and key owing to the industrial action. Litigants, lawyers and other persons with official business at the court were barred from entering the premises. In Enugu State, the state’s High Court, the National Industrial Court, the Federal High Court and the Appeal Court, were affected by the industrial action.

Some litigants and lawyers at the court premises expressed dismay at the perennial strikes by the judicial staff. In Edo State, the strike crippled proceedings in all the courts across the state. At the state High Court in, Benin City, the state capital, lawyers who came early to file briefs or affidavits were turned back at the gate by security officials.

In Oyo State, judicial activities were paralyzed with the gates leading to the courts firmly locked against counsel and litigants. Chairman of the state JUSUN, Mr. Ademola Ayoade, told New Telegraph that the strike was total and would not be called off until their demands were met.

He absolved the union of the circumstances leading to the strike, insisting that JUSUN members gave government enough time and notice on the strike. He said: “We held a meeting in Abuja on November 27, 2014 while the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was supposed to be signed on December 17, 2014.

Since those concerned have refused to honour their part of the bargain, we have no alternative than to commence the strike. Indeed the strike ought to have begun on January 2, but for the public holiday declared by the Federal Government. The strike is total and we shall only call it off when our demands are met.”

As early as 7a.m., JUSUN executives had besieged the Ring-Road and Iyaganku High Court gates, monitoring the situation. Scores of litigants and counsel were prevented from gaining access to the courts. The Appeal Court on Adeoyo Hospital Road, the High Courts and Magistrate’s courts at Iyaganku all in Ibadan were affected. Courts in Oyo, Ogbomoso and Saki zones were also affected by the strike.

Judicial workers in Ekiti also joined other states of the federation to embark on the indefinite strike. Judicial activities at the courts were paralyzed as gates leading to both the state high courts and magistrates courts were under lock and key. Lawyers and litigants were not allowed into the court premises for their normal judicial duties.

The state’s JUSUN Chairman, Mr. Niyi Ogundare, told newsmen that the strike was nationwide. The strike nearly stalled the sitting of the election petition tribunal hearing the petition filed by the Osun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore against the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9, 2014 governorship election.

The judicial workers withdrew their services from the tribunal, but allowed the panel members to continue with the hearing. In Rivers State, judicial workers had been on strike since June 2014 on grounds of alleged insecurity in the work place and the controversial appointment of a chief judge.

Speaking on the strike, Adamu said the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation should be blamed for the failure of the Federal Government to implement the judgement of the Federal High Court which stopped the executive from holding on to funds meant for the judiciary.

Adamu, who stated this in Abuja, said that states’ accountants-general had also frustrated the implementation of the judgement. He, however, commended the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity for making efforts to resolve the impasse between the union and the Federal Government. Adamu said: “Remember that this judgement was delivered in January 2014.

Since then, government has engaged us in discussion for about 20 times. We entered MoU for seven times and government failed to, in particular let me be specific, the office of the Accountant General, refused to obey the court judgement.

“There is an order directing him to deduct that money and pay to the National Judicial Council and he had failed to do this. “Also, all the states governors through their accountants-general and commissioners for finance, who are all members of FACC have equally contributed to bring us to where we are today.

“We have accommodated them, tolerated them, but since this is what they preferred, we have decided to give it to them as a New Year gift.” JUSUN had directed all its members to embark on a strike from January 2, owing to the alleged failure of state governments to implement the orders of an Abuja Federal High Court, which granted financial autonomy to state judiciaries.

The court presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola had on January 14, 2014, restrained the Federal Government and the 36 state governors, from holding on to funds meant for the judiciary.

The judge while delivering a ruling in the suit filed by JUSUN held that funds meant for the judiciary should instead be disbursed directly to the heads of court and not to the executive arm of government.