By Mustapha Aleem
The chairman of the Osogbo branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Asafa Sanusi, has instructed legal practitioners under his umbrella to not allow any process to be filed on the heels of the ongoing protest against hike in filing fees.
The Chairman made this known in an interview at the entrance of the Osun State High Court in Osogbo on Tuesday.
Legal practitioners in the state had since yesterday (Monday) begun a demonstration against what they described as “commercialisation of justice in Osun State” when a part of them gathered at the main entrances of the State High Court to show their grievances.
In a memorandum, dated February 24th, 2016 and signed by Mr Taiwo Jacob, who is a Principal Registrar, the Chief Registrar had directed the State High Court, Customary courts of Appeal, Customary Courts and the State Ministry of Justice to comply with an upward review in fees payable to courts.
The protesters, who got the premises as early as 8am, prevented siting at the headquarter of Justice in state capital were seen pasting placards on the gates to the court, with inscriptions like: “Access to justice not for rich man alone; hope of common man on the verge of death; say no to commercialization of justice in the state.”
Asafa said, “We have instructed our members to not allow any process to be filed base on this arbitrary increase in filing fee until the government revert it to normal. The court should not be made a source of revenue because it is the last hope of the common man.”
He, however, flayed the government for not carrying the NBA along before it came up with the upward review, saying it was an unfair procedure.
He added that the state government lacked jurisdiction matter, emphasising that only the Federal Government could review the divorce petition fee.
Efforts to get a reaction from the Chief Registrar, Mr Lawrence Arojo, proved abortive as was not present at the High Court Complex and could not be reached on phone.
But the Permanent Secretary of the Osun State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Biola Odewemimo, said the issue would be resolve while insisting that he could not comment on the issue.
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