*Seeks Judicial Financial Autonomy
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The Nigerian Bar Association, Akure Branch, has raised concerns over deteriorating courtroom facilities, difficulties with electronic filing and other systemic challenges affecting the administration of justice and legal practice in Ondo State.
Chairman of the Branch, Oju Kekemeke, raised the concerns in his inaugural address titled “The Hour of Duty Has Clocked,” following the inauguration of the new executive in Akure.
Kekemeke said lawyers practising in Akure and other parts of Ondo State were contending with both infrastructural and systemic problems, including a court technology system which, despite being introduced to improve efficiency, had in some instances created additional difficulties for practitioners.
“As practitioners of the law, our practice environment in Akure and Ondo State in general is challenged, both in its systemic and infrastructural compositions. We have embraced electronic filing, but it has created unnecessary burdens. At this age, technology should speed up processes and not delay processes,” he said.
He said the Branch would engage relevant authorities on improvements to electronic filing, case assignment and case management, particularly processes connected with the Court Management Information System.
Kekemeke also called for the introduction of electronic recording of court proceedings, arguing that judges should no longer have to bear the burden of manually recording proceedings in longhand when technology could make the process faster and more efficient.
While commending the Ondo State Government for its intervention in the construction of a new High Court complex, the NBA Chairman said attention must also be paid to the condition of existing courtrooms across the state.
He described some of the facilities as inconsistent with the dignity expected of the justice system and linked the challenge to the wider question of financial autonomy for the judiciary.
“The dilapidated courtroom facilities do not represent our honour, dignity and nobility. I am not in doubt that these issues will invite us to the octopus of the problem – financial autonomy for the judiciary. We will continue to support it, and we will do more to closely monitor its implementation by the executive and the judicial arms of government in the state,” Kekemeke said.
According to him, the Branch would continue to advocate full implementation of judicial financial autonomy and closely monitor how the principle is implemented by both the executive and judicial arms of government in Ondo State.
Beyond courtroom infrastructure and electronic filing, Kekemeke identified delays in processing Certificates of Occupancy and perfection of title documents as other concerns affecting lawyers and members of the public.
He also raised concerns over alleged exploitative practices at some court and police registries and called for attention to the implementation of the Lawyers’ Remuneration Order.
The NBA Chairman pledged that the Branch would engage the relevant institutions and stakeholders in an effort to address the identified challenges rather than merely complain about them.
Kekemeke also placed members’ welfare among the priorities of his administration, saying the Branch intended to develop sustainable structures to provide better support for lawyers.
He said full implementation of the Branch’s welfare scheme and the restructuring of the NBA Akure Cooperative Society would form an important part of the administration’s programme over the next two years.
“The full implementation of our Welfare Scheme and the recalibration of the NBA Akure Cooperative Society are central and crucial to the welfare support system we intend to drive in the next two years for the benefit of our members,” he said.
Kekemeke was inaugurated alongside Abidoye John as Vice Chairman; Oluwanike Omotayo as Secretary; Maria Akinrata-Bolorunduro as Treasurer; Charles Gilbert-Ojo as Publicity Secretary; Grace Oguntoyinbo-Suluka as Financial Secretary; Adebola Adegoroye as Welfare Secretary; J.D. Akeredolu as Assistant Secretary; Ojimba Michael as Social Secretary; and Omolayo Akintan as Provost.
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