The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akure Branch, has raised concerns over deteriorating courtroom facilities, challenges with electronic filing and other systemic issues affecting the administration of justice and legal practice in Ondo State.
The Chairman of the branch, Oju Kekemeke, highlighted the concerns in his inaugural address, titled “The Hour of Duty Has Clocked,” following the inauguration of the branch’s new executive in Akure.
Kekemeke said lawyers practising in Akure and other parts of Ondo State were confronted with both infrastructural and systemic challenges, noting that some technological reforms introduced to improve efficiency had, in practice, created additional difficulties for legal 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 to improve electronic filing, case assignment and case management, particularly processes connected with the Court Management Information System.
The NBA chairman also called for the introduction of electronic recording of court proceedings, arguing that judges should no longer be required to manually record 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, Kekemeke said attention must also be given 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 situation to the broader issue 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,” he said.
Kekemeke said the branch would continue to support the full implementation of judicial financial autonomy while monitoring its implementation by the executive and judicial arms of government in Ondo State.
He also identified delays in the processing of Certificates of Occupancy and the perfection of title documents as major concerns affecting lawyers and members of the public.
The chairman raised concerns over alleged exploitative practices at some court and police registries and called for greater attention to the implementation of the Lawyers’ Remuneration Order.
Kekemeke, however, said his administration would focus on engaging relevant institutions and stakeholders to address the identified challenges rather than merely complain about them.
He also listed members’ welfare among the priorities of his administration, saying the branch would establish sustainable structures to provide greater support for lawyers.
According to him, the full implementation of the branch’s welfare scheme and the restructuring of the NBA Akure Cooperative Society would be central to the administration’s two-year programme.
“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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