By Ugochukwu Alaribe
ABA—Activities  at the courts in Aba, Abia state, were on Monday, halted as judicial workers in the city embarked on industrial action over non-payment of salaries and granting of financial autonomy to the Judiciary in the state.

The situation caused confusion with litigants stranded as the courts failed to sit while no judicial worker was on hand to attend to lawyers. Suspects who were brought to court were later taken back.

As at 12 noon, entrance gates to the High Court complex, Aba and Aba South Magistrate Court were still under lock and key.

A judicial worker who spoke to Vanguard said they were only complying with the directives of the circular, adding that until another circular gives a counter directive, the judiciary workers who had long yearned for judicial autonomy remains at home.

A circular sighted by Vanguard read,  “The National Secretariat of JUSUN, Abuja supports your industrial action wholly on this old case. And to direct you to unfailingly resume the suspended strike action on Monday 10th  Oct, 2016 until the autonomy of the Judiciary is approved by the Abia State Government.”

In a telephone interview,  factional  leader of JUSUN, Mr. Chibuike Lambert Onuoha described the strike action as illegal, stating that the judiciary workers were being sponsored by some political elements in the state.

Onuoha who said that he was still discussing  with the state government over the autonomy of the judicial arm assured that work will resume at various courts in Aba on Wednesday.

“Abia state judiciary workers are owed for just two months. We are the only judiciary in the entire nation that is paying the highest salary. Judicial workers in some states are  being  owed up to four months but they are still working and not on strike.  They are not on CONJUS. What is special about Abia that is on CONJUS and because they are being owed for only two months they are on  strike.  I am the chairman of JUSUN and I have the authority to declare strike or not.

“Why should some certain people employ touts/hoodlums to go round the court to disturb people, there is some political power play there. Courts like the Isiala Ngwa High Court, Ohafia, Arochukwu, Umunneochi, Osisioma and so many other courts in the state sat today. Why is it only courts in Aba and its environs that  won’t sit? Somebody is using them.

“Customary Court  workers don’t usually  to go to work because they have nothing to do. So, they are used to staying at home.  The  strike is a continuation of their staying at home. Judiciary workers should continue with their work. Watch out, by Wednesday, you will see that the whole court, particularly the High and Magistrate Courts will be in full session,” Onuoha  said.