The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) chairmen in five Osun State branches have urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to undertake an urgent audit and rehabilitation of court facilities, warning that deteriorating infrastructure is hampering the administration of justice.
In a letter dated October 29, 2026, the chairmen called for repairs across the state’s High Court, Customary Court of Appeal, Magistrates’ Courts and District Customary Courts.
The letter, obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday, was signed by Maruf Adediran of the Osogbo branch, Abdulkareem Azeez of Ikirun, Adefunso Esan of Ilesa, Emmanuel Gbadegesin of Iwo and Festus Olawoye of Ile-Ife.
The association said several court buildings had deteriorated to a level that threatened the dignity of the judiciary, disrupted proceedings and caused hardship for judicial officers, lawyers, litigants, witnesses and other court users.
It identified leaking roofs, damaged ceilings, deteriorating structures and inadequate seating as some of the problems affecting court facilities in Osogbo, Ikirun, Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Iwo, Ede and other locations.
“The administration of justice must not be impeded by dilapidated buildings, leaking roofs, inadequate facilities or the absence of modern equipment necessary for efficient judicial operations,” the chairmen said.
Beyond structural repairs, the NBA called for investment in modern judicial technology, including electronic case management systems, digital recording equipment and computers.
It also urged the government to provide adequate funding for the installation and maintenance of the equipment, alongside training for judicial and registry personnel.
The chairmen recommended an urgent, comprehensive assessment of court buildings, courtrooms, judicial chambers and associated facilities. They also called for emergency repairs to defects that interrupt proceedings or endanger court users.
The proposed intervention should include the rehabilitation of the Chief Judge’s office and the chambers of other judicial officers, with the association urging Adeleke to consult the judiciary and the NBA on project priorities and implementation.
The letter also stressed that such consultations must respect the constitutional independence of the judiciary.
The petition follows an earlier intervention by the NBA leadership in Osun during a shutdown of courts over industrial action by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.
In a letter dated December 8, 2025, the five branch chairmen had warned that a prolonged closure of courts could lead to a breakdown of law and order. The letter was addressed to Adeleke and copied to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, Chief Judge Adepele Ojo, Attorney-General Oluwole Jimi-Bada and state JUSUN chairman Idris Adeniran.
Osun NBA Branches Petition Adeleke Over Deteriorating Court Buildings
