Justice, Rights Denied As JUSUN Strike Continues

On Monday, Lawyers and litigants in Kaduna expressed displeasure over the prolonged strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN)

Recall that, on April 6, JUSUN directed its members to shut down all courts across the federation. Its members compiled with the directives to some large extent. Therefore, lawyers and litigants appealed to governors for a quick resolution to end the strike.

A lawyer, Michael Tega, said, “It has been over a month since the strike began. Every user of the court is clearly finding it difficult. The strike has forced us to go on compulsory holiday, litigants can not go to court to get justice they deserve, and the police cell is congested because suspects can not be brought to court.

“The judiciary workers have every reason to fight for their rights, but for how long will the masses suffer because the courts are closed? We are affected as legal practitioners because that is where we work, and our offices have been shut.”

He added, “Right now, as we speak, there are people in detention, who though presumed innocent because they have not been tried in the court of law and have not been found guilty of any offence, but yet they are now locked up.

“There are litigants who need the court for affidavits and other important things but can not get it; that is a terrible state.”

Another lawyer, Usman Garba, said, said he was in support of autonomy for the judiciary.

“The strike has caused untold hardship to ordinary Nigerians, who are deprived of their freedom without trial and without any opportunity to apply for bail.

“As we speak, you cannot even say there is an urgent matter, and you want to approach the court to get an order because there is a total absence of justice in the land.

“It has also made other fundamental rights enforcement settlement of disputes (matrimonial, family, taxation e.t.c.) impossible, thereby shutting down all justice infrastructure provided by law in Nigeria,” Mr Garba lamented.

A litigant, Emmanuel Samson, also expressed dissatisfaction stressing that the industrial action had crippled court proceedings and commercial activities.

“Many people are affected by the industrial action, especially those who are detention and seek bail, as well as those who have successfully been granted bail and are ready to meet their bail conditions but cannot, owing to the closure of the courts.

“These people now languish in custody indefinitely, pending the termination of the strike action, while the challenge of prison congestion grows worse as a result. The strike is ultimately taking its toll on the criminal cases in the country as many detention centres are filled up with criminals awaiting trial or in detention.