Some lawyers in Cross River State, against the call for financial autonomy and independence of the judiciary, have condemned the lingering strike action by JUSUN.
Judicial staff across Nigeria had been on strike for over a month protesting the lack of financial autonomy by the judiciary and implementation of executive order 10 by state governments.
Speaking with our correspondent, some lawyers who pleaded anonymity condemned the action of some judges and magistrates who they accused of acting like mini gods.
“We are used to the JUSUN strike, in 2015, they were on strike for 11 months before now, it’s the young lawyers that we have sympathy for.
“The case files that are not attended to are still lying down there, what about those in prison custody who went there to return for their matters to be tried for bails and hearing, they are still there and they will be there, nobody can bring them out
“That is why, when you want to do your case, do it smartly because Nigeria has become something else, they could be one strike or the other, it is very sad
“The governors are never ready and they will not concede because they will be empty, what gives them power is finance, when you have money, you have the courage you deserve.
“Do you say governors should relinquish their financial power to the judiciary and the parliament? Now that some Judges and magistrates have no financial autonomy and independence, they are so powerful and courageous.
“When you give them autonomy, you don’t know how corrupt the judges and magistrates are, they are all corrupt, is it now, that the kind of independence you want to give them so that nobody can discipline them again
“Today, they don’t care about anything and now that they are looking for independence, will they behave well, they will say my court, who told you it is their court
“When we were young lawyers, if a judge will not come to court, he will send a memo to the court but today nobody cares, they will stay for one week without minding, appointments do not follow merit and people are appointed based on their ethnic group” the lawyer stated.
But the state chairman of JUSUN, Comrade Ebony Asanya told DAILY POST that no matter the level of intimidation the union receives, it will not soft-pedal on its demands nor call off the strike.
