Lawyers under the Abeokuta branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have commenced a three-day boycott of courts in Abeokuta, Ogun State, following a dispute over new administrative policies introduced by the state judiciary.
The action, announced in a statement issued on Monday, 29 June 2026, is scheduled to run from 6 July to 8 July 2026 and will affect the High Court, Customary Court of Appeal, Magistrates’ Courts and Customary Courts within the Ogun State capital.
The branch Publicity Secretary, Mr Abdulbasit Shuaib, said the decision followed what he described as unsuccessful attempts to resolve concerns through meetings, correspondence and consultations with relevant judicial authorities.
According to the NBA, the dispute centres on the implementation of a “Four-Oaths-Per-Day Policy,” alongside a significant increase in the cost of filing oaths from ₦200 to over ₦1,500, representing an increase of about 650 per cent.
The association also criticised the introduction of a ₦100,000 virtual court sitting fee per session, describing it as a burden on legal practitioners and a barrier to effective access to justice.
Lawyers in the branch argued that the policies have made legal practice more difficult and have negatively affected the administration of justice in Ogun State, particularly for clients with limited financial capacity.
“The issues are the implementation of the Four-Oaths-Per-Day Policy and the astronomical increase in filing fees,” the statement read.
The NBA directive instructed all members to withdraw from court proceedings across affected courts for the duration of the action, while reaffirming the association’s willingness to engage constructively with the judiciary to resolve the matter.
“The branch remains committed to constructive engagement with the Ogun State Judiciary and is ready to embrace genuine efforts to resolve these issues,” the statement added.
The development reflects ongoing tensions between legal practitioners and judicial authorities over court administration policies, particularly in relation to cost, efficiency and access to justice.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
