Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has charged the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association in the state to rise to its responsibility and defend the bench against pressure from the politicians.
Adeleke spoke on Thursday in Osogbo at this year’s Law Week Lecture, a flagship event for the annual Law Week of the NBA, Osogbo branch, attended by lawyers and other participants across the state and beyond.
The governor specifically mentioned the incident involving Justice Isiaka Adeleke of the State High Court of Justice sitting in Ikirun, who he said was subjected to pressure over a political matter that had not even commenced, said the pressure mounted on the jury made him to eventually recuse himself from the matter.
Represented by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor said since judges could not defend themselves in public whenever attacked, it behooves on NBA to take the pressure off the judicial officials by rising in their defence.
“On the issue of local government allocations too, there are two pending cases at the High courts, and some politicians, when the cases have not even been heard, called a press conference and started dismantling our judges, and we know our judges cannot speak for themselves.
“In that kind of situation, we expected the NBA to come out in defence of our judges. My Lord Justice Adeleke, when the case eventually came up for hearing, recused himself and said the file should be transferred back to the CJ,” Adeleke said.
He also mentioned the imbroglio that has held down the local government administration in the state since February saying, “We want you to be more proactive and anybody that is observing what is going on in Osun today will know that we have imbroglio in our local government areas.
“Part of our charge to the NBA is that, at a time like this, there is nothing wrong with the NBA issuing a statement that they have reviewed the two judgments (relating to local government elections in Osun) and give their opinion to the Attorney General of the Federation.”
Delivering a keynote address titled, ‘State and Local Governments’ Independence under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended): A Myth or Reality,’ Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, held that for Nigeria to truly reap the benefits of its diversity and democratic potential, it must recommit to the tenets of true federalism.
Akinboro further noted that the independence of state and local government areas must be treated as a luxury, but must be seen as a necessity, adding that “Until then, the federalism we claim remains largely a constitutional myth, not a governing reality.
“From fiscal constraints and judicial centralization to a unitary police system, the constitutional and practical realities continue to undermine the autonomy of sub-national entities. For true federalism to be realized in Nigeria, constitutional amendments must be pursued to guarantee fiscal autonomy, decentralize judicial and security structures, and empower state and local governments to function effectively and independently.
“Until such structural reforms are actualized, the supposed federal character of Nigeria will remain largely ceremonial, and the promise of genuine democratic governance at the sub-national level will remain elusive.”
Earlier, in his welcome address, Osogbo NBA Chairman, Olayemi Abiona, challenged lawyers and aspiring lawyers to let the lecture be a clarion call to reflect on the roles of legal practitioners in shaping a Nigeria where governance is equitable, transparent, and responsive to the needs of all citizens.
“As we engage with today’s topic, let us draw inspiration from Osogbo’s rich heritage of resilience and wisdom, approaching our deliberations with open minds and a shared resolve to translate insights into actionable reforms,” Abiona said
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