The Ogun State Judiciary has defended the processes leading to the introduction of its digital justice reforms, insisting that the Nigerian Bar Association was adequately consulted before the implementation of the new policies that have generated opposition from some branches of the association.
The Chief Registrar of the High Court of Ogun State, Mr. Olakulehin Luqman Oke, stated this on Friday during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu.
Oke also faulted the decision of the Abeokuta, Sagamu and Ota branches of the NBA to embark on a three day boycott of court proceedings without formally notifying the judiciary.
He said, “Before the judiciary even commenced the virtual hearings, we wrote to the NBA. Before the rules were amended, the judiciary wrote to the NBA. When these three branches decided they wanted to go on a boycott, they did not write to the judiciary. They issued a press release, and we saw it like every other person.”
His remarks came in response to claims earlier made by the Chairman of the NBA, Abeokuta Branch, Chief Kayode Aderemi, who had maintained on the same programme that the boycott followed months of consultations, meetings and formal correspondence with the judiciary which allegedly yielded no positive outcome.
Responding to the claims, the Chief Registrar insisted that the legal profession is governed by established procedures and that the same due process observed by the judiciary before introducing the reforms ought to have guided the NBA before embarking on the industrial action.
According to him, consultations on the reforms began long before their implementation, explaining that the amendment of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules started several years ago.
Oke disclosed that draft copies of the amended rules, including provisions introducing virtual hearings and the ₦100,000 virtual hearing fee, were circulated to the five NBA branches in Ogun State for comments and observations.
He added that letters were equally sent to all the branches before the commencement of the electronic affidavit system, noting that only the Ota branch responded.
He said, “Draft copies were submitted to the five branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Ogun State for their observations and comments. The draft contained the provisions governing virtual hearings, including the ₦100,000 fee.”
While acknowledging the NBA’s constitutional right to organise a boycott, Oke maintained that professional ethics demanded that the association formally notify the Chief Judge or the leadership of the judiciary before taking such action.
“The legal profession relies on the principle of respect and courtesy. It is a noble profession, and we should relate as gentlemen,” he said.
The Chief Registrar also questioned the scope of the boycott, arguing that it extended to courts that had no connection with the issues being protested.
According to him, the Customary Court of Appeal neither conducts virtual hearings nor operates the electronic affidavit system, while only a few Magistrates’ Courts recently commenced limited virtual proceedings.
He further rejected allegations that the judiciary introduced the reforms without adequate consultation, revealing that the Ogun State Bar and Bench Forum had met three times this year, in January, May and June, to discuss issues affecting the administration of justice.
Oke said the June meeting extensively discussed the digital reforms, with judiciary officials providing explanations to NBA chairmen and secretaries from across the state.
“They mentioned their reservations. We made explanations and left the meeting believing discussions would continue until we reached a conclusion,” he said.
He disclosed that the judiciary had also organised four sensitisation webinars before the introduction of the electronic affidavit platform in February 2026 to educate lawyers on its operation.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the electronic affidavit system, Oke clarified that the restriction limiting four daily filings applies only to general affidavits generated through standard templates on the Ogun Court Management Information System platform.
He explained that affidavits connected with active court proceedings, including verifying affidavits and witness statements on oath, remain exempt from any restriction because they can only be filed by legal practitioners.
“There is no restriction on the number of affidavits that a legal practitioner can file,” he said.
The Chief Registrar explained that the daily limit on general affidavits was introduced to curb fraud and eliminate the widespread circulation of forged affidavits that could not be verified by the courts.
He also defended the ₦1,500 electronic affidavit fee, describing it as comparable with charges in several states operating similar digital platforms.
According to him, Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Bayelsa, Oyo, Ondo and Rivers states all operate electronic affidavit systems with fees ranging between ₦800 and ₦2,700.
On the ₦100,000 virtual hearing fee, Oke admitted that Ogun State’s charge may be among the highest in the country but argued that the state offers one of the most efficient virtual court systems.
“It may be the highest. It is also the most efficient, and this cannot be disputed,” he said.
The Chief Registrar also defended the increase in oath fees from ₦200 to ₦1,500, arguing that the previous rate had remained unchanged for over a decade despite rising operational costs.
He said the old system encouraged widespread forgery, with fake court stamps and unauthorised oath commissioners operating outside court premises, making it impossible to verify many affidavits.
According to him, the digital system now guarantees authenticity, proper documentation and traceability of court documents.
Oke urged members of the Bench and the Bar to embrace reforms aimed at modernising the justice system, insisting that improved service delivery could not be sustained with outdated fee structures.
“We cannot say we want change and still expect to operate that system using an outdated fee structure,” he said.
