Toluwani Eniola
The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has faulted the Osun State Government over the hike in filing fees of court processes.
A statement by the Osun State PDP Chairman, Soji Adagunodo, on Sunday described the hike as an attempt to shut the doors of justice against the common man in the state.
Adagunodo expressed dismay at the hike even as he called on the state government to reverse the hike.
Specifically, the party blamed Governor Rauf Aregbesola for what it described as 900 per cent increase in the cost of initiating litigation in Osun State.
The party said that it was wrong of the state government to limit access to justice, saying the law courts remained the last hope of the common man.
The statement said it was wrong of the government to increase filing charges to between N50,000 and N100,000.
It said, “It is shocking that the state government would embark on this thoughtless hike. The increase is capable of pushing litigants to seeking self-help since they will no longer be able to use the judicial process to settle scores.
“Nations of the world prioritise granting their citizens fast and cheap access to the courts of law because they understand that the intricacies of modern societies demand prompt, unbiased adjudication of disputes, without which society may fall into anarchy.
“How does a pensioner whom government is owing up to three-year pensions gather such an amount to initiate a civil action to claim his entitlements? Or how does a poor tenant who has issues with a Shylock landlord raise the new filing fees to protect his interest?
“Why should a young school leaver or an applicant in Osun State require thousands of naira to swear to an ordinary affidavit?”
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