BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & GIFT WILLIAMS

LAGOS—Activities at the Lagos state judiciary were yesterday crippled as members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, began an indefinite strike as directed by the national body.

National leadership of JUSUN, had Friday directed its members in the state judiciary across the country to begin an indefinite strike in solidarity with their colleagues in Rivers state over the leadership crisis rocking the state judiciary as well as state governments alleged refusal to comply with a court judgment for financial autonomy and independence of the judiciary.

Already litigants have started suffering the effects of the action as the gates leading to the four divisions of the state judiciary were under locks and keys.

A visit to the headquarters (Ikeja division) of the state High Court revealed that both Judges and non judicial staff of the state High court stayed away from work in compliance with the directive of JUSUN.

Lawyers and litigants who came to court as early as 8.00 am were disappointed as they were prevented from entering court premises.

At the Igbosere, Lagos division of the State High Court, some lawyers were seen loitering about the gate, while security men prevented them from gaining access into the court’s premises.

Though the Federal High Courts workers are not involved in the strike, the judges are on vacation which began yesterday.

The only exceptions are the two judges slated to entertain civil matters while the recess lasts.

They however said vacation sitting would commence from Wednesday (tomorrow).

Chairman, of JUSUN Lagos Chapter, Emmanuel Abioye, said the branch was merely complying with the directive from the national body.

He recalled that a Federal High Court Judge, Justice Ademola Adeniyi, had on January 13, 2014, gave a judgment in favour of the judiciary, in which the court ordered the 36 states governors and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to comply with constitutional provisions on financial autonomy of the judiciary.

When Vanguard, also contacted, the National Secretary, Isaiah Adetola, he said ”all state High Courts will remain closed until they comply with the judgment of the court and grant financial autonomy to the judiciary.”

He stated that it was only the Federal High Court and the Supreme Court that would be exempted, from the strike, because they had commenced implementation of the order of the court.

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Kayode Bankole, who spoke on the issue, expressed worries that the state governments were yet to comply with the judgment several months after it was delivered.

He said ‘’even without going to court, the Federal Government ought to know that without financial autonomy, the judiciary cannot be independent. The judiciary cannot be independent when it goes cap_in_hand to beg for fund from the executive”

Meanwhile, the strike has taken its toll on matters before the court.