…Says Judiciary Reduced To Begging Executive For Entitlements
The Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan Branch, has faulted the Oyo State Government over the alleged failure to pay judges’ rent allowances for three years as well as their 2026 leave and vacation allowances, describing the development as a threat to judicial independence.
The association said the non-payment of the statutory entitlements reflected a lack of respect for the judiciary and undermined the principle of separation of powers.
The condemnation followed letters written by the Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Iyabo Yerima, to Governor Seyi Makinde, requesting the payment of outstanding rent allowances for 2024, 2025 and 2026, alongside the 2026 leave and vacation allowances.
In one of the letters dated June 5, 2026, with reference number OYSJ/ISY/RA/018, the Chief Judge sought the settlement of unpaid rent allowances and adequate budgetary provisions for subsequent payments.
According to the correspondence, the Chief Judge is entitled to a monthly rent allowance of N665,143, while each judge is entitled to N601,580 monthly.
In another letter dated July 13, 2026, with reference number OYSJ/ISY/AJVA/017, Justice Yerima also requested the payment of judges’ 2026 leave and vacation allowances.
Reacting in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, the Chairman of the NBA, Ibadan Branch, Mr Kola Kareem, described the situation as disturbing, saying the repeated appeals by the Chief Judge showed that the executive had little regard for the judiciary.
“For the Chief Judge to have written three letters requesting the payment of judges’ rent allowances, it shows that the government has no regard for both the Bar and the Bench,” Kareem said.
He argued that it was wrong for the executive to treat the judiciary like a department under the civil service, determining when and how judges receive their lawful entitlements.
According to him, the development further exposes the lack of financial autonomy for the judiciary.
“The judiciary cannot truly be independent when it has to beg the executive for its statutory entitlements,” he said.
Kareem also described the withholding of judicial allocations as unconstitutional, insisting that funds meant for the judiciary should be released directly to the arm of government in line with constitutional provisions.
“The capital and recurrent allocations should go directly to the judiciary instead of creating a situation where judges have to depend on the executive before accessing their funds,” he added.
The NBA chairman also criticised the absence of official residential quarters for judges in many states, warning that judges residing in private homes face avoidable security risks.
He recalled that judges traditionally lived in designated government quarters after independence, but noted that many of such facilities had been disposed of over the years.
“We should return to the era when judges lived in dedicated judges’ quarters, where they are better protected from undue exposure,” he said.
Kareem urged Governor Makinde to immediately approve the payment of the outstanding allowances to enable judges discharge their constitutional responsibilities without unnecessary financial distractions and enjoy their annual vacation.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Abiodun Aikomo, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. The calls and enquiries seeking the government’s response did not receive any reply.
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