The justice system in Ondo State has been brought to a complete standstill due to an indefinite strike by judicial workers, even as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa marked his 61st birthday by granting pardons to seven convicts.
Courts Under Lock and Key
Since penultimate Monday, January 12, courts across Ondo State have remained shut and inaccessible. The strike was initiated by the Coalition of Magistrates, Presidents of Grade ‘A’ Customary Courts and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ondo State chapter.
The workers took this drastic action following the state government's failure to approve their constitutionally mandated financial autonomy. A visit by The Guardian confirmed that court gates were still locked, with union members preventing any work from proceeding until their demands are addressed.
Workers Accuse Executive of Strangulation
One of the aggrieved workers, Jamiu Bamidele, has publicly accused the state's Attorney General, Kayode Ajulo (SAN), and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowumi Isaac, of deliberately crippling the judicial arm of government.
Bamidele lamented the poor welfare of workers and stated that the executive branch is engaging in an act of institutional vandalism. He warned that by starving the judiciary of funds, the state government has effectively declared war on its own citizens.
The strike has had severe consequences, with hundreds of citizens reportedly languishing in overcrowded police cells and correctional facilities in Akure and other parts of the state. These individuals are being denied their fundamental rights to arraignment or bail due to the court closures.
Governor's Birthday Pardon Amidst Crisis
In a contrasting development, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa exercised his constitutional prerogative of mercy to commemorate his 61st birthday. He granted outright pardon and release to seven convicts serving various sentences in the state's correctional facilities.
This follows an earlier pardon of 77 inmates at the start of the new year. According to a statement from the Governor's Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the latest beneficiaries were chosen based on reports of positive behavior and genuine remorse.
The governor emphasized that the decision followed thorough recommendations by the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy. He highlighted the twin goals of prison decongestion and restorative justice, aiming to provide second chances to those who have demonstrated meaningful reform.
The Chairman of the Advisory Council, Dr. Kayode Ajulo (SAN), commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for what he termed a thoughtful and forward-thinking decision.
The situation presents a stark paradox: a justice system paralyzed by industrial action, preventing new cases from being heard, while the executive concurrently releases convicted individuals through pardon powers. The resolution of the strike remains uncertain as judicial workers hold firm on their demand for financial autonomy.
