You Have Seven‑Days to End Court Shutdown in Osun, NBA Tells Adeleke
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Osun State has formally urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to ensure the reopening of courts across the state, warning that the prolonged closure might force the state into a de facto state of emergency if not addressed within the next seven days.
In a strongly worded letter dated December 8, 2025, addressed to the governor and copied to key judicial and legislative officials — including the State Attorney‑General, the Chief Judge, as well as the leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) — the NBA expressed grave concern over the months‑long paralysis of the justice system.
The shutdown began on September 22, 2025, when JUSUN members withdrew their services over unresolved grievances including delayed promotions and other welfare issues.
Since then, courts have remained closed, preventing litigants from pursuing routine civil and criminal matters, and leaving suspects languishing in police and correctional custody without trial.
According to the letter — signed by the chairmen of the five NBA branches in the state: Osogbo, Ikirun, Iwo, Ife, and Ilesa — the further continuation of the shutdown is unsustainable and inimical to justice and public order.
The NBA demanded that Governor Adeleke instruct JUSUN to suspend the strike immediately and ensure all courts reopen within seven days.
The association said its efforts to mediate earlier — including separate meetings with the Chief Judge, the Attorney‑General and JUSUN representatives — had failed, noting that a joint meeting convened by the Chief Judge was deliberately snubbed by the union.
Some members of the state Judicial Service Commission, appointed by the governor, also failed to attend, the NBA lamented.
As a path forward, the NBA urged Governor Adeleke to guarantee that all legitimate concerns of JUSUN would be addressed through “a structured and time‑bound process,” to be jointly overseen by the state Judicial Service Commission and the Bar. It also called for active participation by the Attorney‑General and all Judicial Service Commission members appointed by Adeleke, in all future mediation efforts.
The plea underscores the serious consequences of a non-functional judiciary — not merely for litigants and legal practitioners, but for the rule of law in Osun State as a whole.
Without access to courts, fundamental rights are stalled and public trust in justice erodes.
Whether Governor Adeleke will act on the ultimatum remains to be seen. But with the clock ticking, legal minds and waiting citizens alike will be watching closely.
