CJN, Judges locked out as judicial workers ‎begin indefinite strike, Solicits support to strike in Kaduna

‎THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and other Justices of the Supreme Court were Monday, locked out of their respective offices by protesting members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN.

The Union which embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike Monday, equally prevented Justices of the Appeal Court and Judges of both High and Lower Courts within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, from conducting any form of legal activity.

All the courts, including the Supreme Court, was barricaded by the striking judiciary workers who used heavy chains and padlocks ‎to block entrance and exit gates to all the courts.

All the Justices that intended to access their offices yesterday, 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.

This is coming as the Kaduna State Chairman of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Comrade Murtala Aminu, has solicited the support of all Nigerians to the nationwide strike embarked upon by the union.

Aminu made the appeal when he spoke to newsmen in Kaduna on Monday while on a monitoring mission to enforce the strike.

He said that the action was meant to enhance access to justice in the country.

Aminu said the strike was also meant to ensure total independence of the judiciary from its current dependence on the executive.

Reports said that all courts in Kaduna metropolis were shut as the workers remained at home in compliance with the directive by the JUSUN national executive council.

He said that such dependence was contrary to the provisions of the constitution and a subsisting court judgment on the issue.

Aminu said that an independent judiciary will guarantee access to justice for all Nigerians.

He said this is because such independence would ensure proper equipping, training of staff and fast track disposal of pending cases.

Aminu said the strike was “total” across the state, adding that members of the union would not return to work until all their demands were met.