HOW MEMBERS OF NBA OTA BRANCH WERE ALLOWED ACCESS INTO STATE HOUSE*

Lawyers from the Ota Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association were on Monday, temporarily prevented from gaining entrance into the Ogun State Government House in Oke-Mosan Abeokuta. Following their use of a commercial bus.

Recall that Judiciary workers under the aegis of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had on April 6, began a nationwide industrial action seeking a full implementation of financial autonomy for the Judiciary, following order 10 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2020.

JUSUN had ordered the closure of all courts in the country consequently, until its demand is met by Government.

Meanwhile, following the outcome of its meeting held on April 15, 2021, the union decided that it will stage a nationwide peaceful protest in Abuja on Monday April 19, 2021 and had also, urged its branches in the 36 states to follow suit and lead a peaceful March to their respective government houses, seeking a compliance with the constitutional provisions on financial autonomy for the Judiciary.

In the same vein, The NBA President, Mr Olumide Akpata had also directed branches of the NBA to follow suit after issuing guidelines

Members of the Ota Bar had on Monday, April 19, 2021, converged at the Magistrates' court for take off to the government house in Abeokuta in a bus, while other lawyers with private vehicles were urged to pick up their colleagues.

Although a video recorded by a member of the Ota Bar revealed that on arrival at the Ogun State Government House Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the vehicles were stopped outside the gate by security men who allegedly prevented the lawyers from gaining entrance into the Government house, it was however learnt that the refusal was due to the use of a commercial bus.

Members of the Bar however, told newsmen, that after a period of time, and following
interventions and explanations from the Bar leadership, the lawyers were eventually allowed access into the Government house by the security operatives

It was gathered that the initiall denial of access was due to the fact that they had come in a commercial bus and so, commercial buses could not be allowed in.

Ultimately, the Ota NBA lawyers were admitted into the Ogun state government house by the security.