Osun Lawyers Rejoice as Court Halts Implementation of Increased Suit Filing Fees

By Abdulrofiu Agboola

Lawyers in the Osun State have lauded an order of a federal high court restraining the Osun State Government from the implementation of the new suit filing fees.

Justice Maureen Adaobi-Onyeten of the Osogbo federal high court today granted the prayer of the lawyers who sought the court’s order for an interim injunction restraining the state government, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, and Chief Registrar of the High Court of Justice, Osogbo from enforcing the increased suit filing fees.

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ilesa branch had approached the court with a Motion Ex-Parte dated February 28, and filed on March 01, 2017 for maintenance of status quo and suspension of all action of proceedings and implementation of a circular dated February 24, 2017, pending the determination of the case.

Ruling on the application, Justice Adaobi-Onyeten ordered: “That the status quo ante must be maintained and also orders the suspension of all actions, proceedings, implementation of the circular dated 24^th day of February, 2017 and signed by Taiwo Jacob, principal Registrar, Litigation of the High Court of Osun State on the directive of the 7^th defendant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

The substantive matter was adjourned till March 16, 2017 for hearing.

Speaking with newsmen at the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun Council, the lawyers led by Mr Maurice Okediya, commended the court for standing by the people.

Okediya said the state government wanted to commercialize justice and deny the masses access to justice because of the high charges on the suit filing.

According to the lawyer, the state government has increased writ of summon from N4, 000 to N40, 000 while a divorce petition has also jumped from N3, 000 to N25, 000 and Oath was increased from N200 to N1000.