Osun High Court deserted following NBA protest

The premises of  Osun High Court were  on Wednesday deserted, following a protest by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over the state government’s hike in filing fees.
Activities inside the court’s premises  were paralysed, following the development with only a few lawyers  sighted moving in and out.
A legal practitioner, Mr Najite Okobie, urged the state government to reverse  the hike in fees.
He also called for a round table discussion with the NBA  in  the interest of all stakeholders.
Okobie  said the sudden hike in fees would discourage citizens from coming to the courts  to seek justice.
He said  this  might result in people taking  the laws into their hands.
The Chairman of the NBA,  Osogbo branch, Mr Sanusi Asafa, had told newsmen in Osogbo that the association would continue to oppose the fees hike.
“ We were not consulted before the indiscriminate increase in fees,” he  said.
Similarly, Mr Murtala Agboola, the NBA Chairman, Ife branch, also said  that the boycott of the courts by lawyers was to express  displeasure at the development.
“We are protesting against the increment in filing fees. For there to be accessibility to justice, it must be affordable to all,’’ he had said. (NAN)
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Mr Biola Adewumi, however, said the matter would be  resolved in the best interest of justice.