A video clip showing disturbing scenes from a courtroom in Ondo State has sparked outrage across the legal community and beyond, raising fresh concerns about the poor state of judicial infrastructure in Nigeria.

The video, which has gone viral on social media, captures the deplorable state of High Court 1 in the Ondo Judicial Division, where a leaking roof allowed rainwater to pour into the courtroom during a session. Lawyers, fully robed and seated for proceedings, were seen abandoning their designated section (the bar) and relocating to the gallery to escape the downpour. Litigants huddled in a corner of the courtroom as the rain disrupted proceedings entirely.

The footage also shows broken furniture and flooded tables and chairs, highlighting the decay and neglect of the court’s physical structure. The embarrassing incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with many describing the courtroom conditions as a disgrace to the judiciary.

Lawyers in other jurisdictions have since joined the outcry, urging branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to “wake up” and take responsibility for monitoring the condition of courts in their areas. They stressed that a courtroom is not only a judge’s workplace but also reflects the dignity of the legal profession.

Critics argue that while many NBA branches focus heavily on hosting monthly meetings and elaborate Law Week events, they often fail to monitor how judiciary funds are allocated and spent. Some lamented that NBA branch executives are more preoccupied with seeking sponsorship from state governments for their events than holding those same governments accountable for the judiciary’s decay.

 

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Calls have now intensified for both the Ondo State Government and the NBA, at both state and national levels, to advocate for immediate reforms. Stakeholders say urgent action is needed to renovate decaying courts, prevent further embarrassment, and restore the sanctity of the judiciary.

“This is not just a leaky roof; it is the leaking credibility of the system,” one lawyer commented online.

TheNigeriaLawyer made efforts to confirm whether the leaking roof had been fixed at the time of filing this report but was unsuccessful, as no official was willing to comment—despite the situation affecting them during court sittings.

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