Nigerian Judiciary Workers Shut Down Courts Nationwide

Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has closed down all courts nationwide following the refusal of the executive to comply with a judgment of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered the executive to stay off funds meant for the judiciary.

The union’s president, Mustapha Adamu who spoke with newsmen in Abuja said the workers decided to go on an indefinite strike because the executive did not comply with the agreement reached with the union to comply with the judgment of the court on judiciary funding.

While sympathizing with litigants, he said the workers had no choice but to go on strike to compel implementation of a subsisting court order and the agreement reached with them.

The strike led to a total shut down of the courts at the Federal Capital Territory. A visit at the Federal High Court located at the Central Business District, judges, lawyers and workers were? politely turned back. The situation was the same at the Abuja High Court which is in the Maitama District.

The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal located at the Three Arms Zone were also locked?.

The strike is coming at a crucial period when many politicians who are dissatisfied with their parties primaries are hoping that the courts would come to their rescue.

All the Justices that intended to access their offices including the CJN, were forced to turn back, as the workers, through their National President Mr. Adamu Marwa, maintained that they would not bow down until the Federal Government complied and implemented the Federal High Court judgement that declared financial autonomy for the judiciary.

The judgment which was delivered on January 13, 2014, by Justice Ademola Adeniyi ?had specifically ordered that funds meant for the judiciary should be released directly to the heads of courts and not to the Executive arm of government.