The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Osun State has raised concern over the continued shutdown of courts across the state, warning that the prolonged closure could trigger a constitutional crisis capable of snowballing into a state of emergency.
This warning was contained in a strongly worded letter addressed to Governor Ademola Adeleke. The correspondence, sighted in Osogbo on Monday, was also forwarded to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun; the Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo; the Attorney General, Oluwole Jimi-Bada; and the state chairman of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Idris Adeniran.
Dated December 8, 2025, the letter carried the signatures of the chairpersons of all five NBA branches in the state: Maruf Adediran (Osogbo), Niyi Akinsola (Ikirun), F. O. Ajani (Iwo), Ayodele Olawoye (Ife), and Raymond Oki (Ilesa).
Courts in Osun have remained under lock and key since September 22, 2025, following an indefinite strike declared by JUSUN over unresolved welfare issues and stalled promotions for the 2024/2025 service year.
The NBA urged Governor Adeleke to intervene decisively and compel JUSUN to call off the strike within seven days, stressing that the paralysis of judicial activities threatened public order and undermined constitutional governance.
The Association noted that its members had held separate peace meetings with the Chief Judge, the Attorney General, and the union’s leadership in an attempt to find a resolution. However, the process reportedly stalled when JUSUN declined to attend a joint meeting organized by the NBA and the Chief Judge.
According to the lawyers, progress has also been hampered by the refusal of some members of the Judicial Service Commission appointed by the governor, to participate in reconciliation meetings convened by the Chief Judge.
- The NBA urged Adeleke to reassure JUSUN that their legitimate grievances would be addressed through a clear and time-bound process overseen jointly by the JSC and the Bar. The Association also demanded that all JSC members appointed by the governor be mandated to attend and actively participate in all meetings aimed at resolving the dispute.
The current strike action began after JUSUN, on September 20, instructed its members to withdraw from all duties with immediate effect. In the directive signed by its chairman, Idris Adeniran, the union accused the judiciary leadership of ignoring earlier communications and failing to prioritise staff welfare.
Adeniran stated that despite a formal letter sent on September 3, 2025, the JSC chair had made no effort to engage with the union, fueling concerns that the leadership of the state judiciary was not committed to fairness, dialogue, or industrial peace.
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