Aregbesola Under Attack Over Increment in Suit Filing Fees

By Abdulrofiu Agboola

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has come under attack following the increment in the suit filing fees in the state courts.

Since the increment came to public knowledge last week, criticism has been trailing the Aregbesola’s administration from legal practitioners and the general public.

Individuals and groups have joined the lawyers who have boycotted and closed courts in the state to protest what they described as arbitrary and wicked increment on the suit filing fees.

Aregbesola and Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo

Commenting on the increment, a group of 14-members known as G-14 urged the state government to reverse its decision on the increment, describing it as callous and injurious to the actualization of justice in the state.

The group in a press statement signed by its Coordinator and Secretary, Messrs Olufemi Odofin and Olatunde Oladapo on Monday, said the suit filing increment is a reflection of bad governance and poor leadership, saying that it is catastrophic to all victims of injustice who wish to approach court for redress.

Supporting the Osun State chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) on the rejection of the increment, the group said only a wicked governor and judicial principal officers would make a 900 percent upward review of suit filing fees without considering the common people.

The group has issued a 7-day ultimatum to Aregbesola to reverse the increment, failure of which would attract mass action.

“Why does the Governor want to further put pressure on the already impoverished Osun people? Why raising tax and revenues of things that have direct impact on the financial power of Osun masses? What has Osun got in return for all sacrifices they have been making in the past years to justify multiple taxation and increased fees?” the group questioned.

Apart from mass action at the expiration of the 7-day ultimatum, the group said it would put up a widely circulated petition to The Presidency about the increment, accusing the governor of being adamant.

“Hardly would you see him (Aregbesola) reversing his draconian policies in the face of public outcry but we have resolved to pursue this one to a logical conclusion with other stakeholders.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo and other stakeholders in the judiciary should advice the Governor appropriately or face the public scrutiny too. It will be unfair for the masses to result to self help in the face of no access to justice”, the group submitted.