From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo.
Unless urgent steps are taken to rehabilitate the Judges’ quarters in Oyo town, Oyo State, hopes of litigants in securing smooth dispensation of justice may be dashed.
The collapsed quarters located at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Apitipiti, have become veritable abode for miscreants and reptiles.
Built during the colonial era, the complex is not only overgrown with thick weed, all household materials in it have been completely vandalized.
Freedom Online learnt than judges decided to abandon the
quarters some years ago because of what they described as “security laxity”.
The jurists’ argument, it was gathered, was that the only access road to the GRA was porous, thereby making the quarters vulnerable to criminal activities.
Consequently, Judges and even the magistrates have had to travel from Ibadan, the state capital (a distance of between one or two hours depending on the traffic along the highway) to the ancient town to handle litigations.
Offer times, both the litigants and lawyers are disappointed and frustrated as a result of frequent adjournment of cases by judges, who could not meet up with the stressful and heavy traffic hold ups along Ibadan/Oyo road.
The situation is so worrisome that some suspects awaiting trials are languishing in the federal prisons yard, Abolongo, along Ogbomoso road, indefinitely, due to inability of judges to try them as at when due.
Some of the lawyers interviewed told Freedom Online that frequent adjournment of cases is an aberration to the dispensation of justice.
According to them, “we are really disturbed and feeling bad about the development. But don’t blame the judges, but the government that fails to provide enabling environment for the jurists to operate. It is indeed unfortunate.’’
A litigant, Mr. Adio Adelana, wondered why it is difficult for the state government to construct befitting residential quarters for the judges, and provide adequate security for them.
“I have a case in one of the courts in Oyo town, which is being adjourned frequently due to inability of the presiding judge to come down from Ibadan, as a result of traffic hold up. It is a worrisome development indeed”.
