NBA criticizes Oyo for not paying judges' rent allowances

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, has criticized the Oyo State Government for not paying three years' rent allowances and the 2026 leave allowances for judges.

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Iyabo Yerima, wrote to Governor Seyi Makinde asking for the unpaid rent allowances for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026.

A copy of the letter, seen by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has reference number OYSJ/ISY/RA/018 and is dated 5 June 2026.

The letter is titled ‘Third reminder Re: Payment of Rent Allowances to Oyo State Judges for Year 2024, 2025, 2026 and Subsequent Months Provision.’

The letter states that the Chief Judge is entitled to a monthly rent allowance of N665,143 while other judges should receive N601,580 each.

In another letter with reference number OYSJ/ISY/AJVA/017 and dated 13 July 2026, the Chief Judge asked the governor to pay the 2026 vacation allowance for judges.

Kola Kareem, the chairman of the NBA Ibadan branch, spoke to NAN about the issue. He said the Oyo State Government's failure to pay rent and other allowances shows a lack of respect for the judiciary.

“For the CJ to have written three letters asking for payment of rent allowances for judges, it shows that the government has no regard for both the bar and the bench,” the NBA Chairman said.

Mr. Kareem said it is wrong for the Oyo State Government to treat the judiciary like part of the civil service that decides how and when to pay its workers.

He also stated that the government’s actions prove that the judiciary is not independent.

According to him, the judiciary cannot be independent as long as it keeps asking the executive for its payments.

The NBA called the lack of payment to the judiciary unconstitutional.

“The problem the Oyo State Judiciary has is that it relies too heavily on the executive and this doesn’t make them an independent organ.

“The capital and recurrent expenditure should be paid directly to the account of the judiciary and not the reverse where the judiciary begs for their entitlements,” he said.

Kareem also criticized the lack of secure residential quarters for judges in many states.

He argued that judges living in private homes put them at risk.

“At Independence, Nigeria inherited the culture of judges living in quarters where the public couldn’t reach them.

“Those quarters have been sold by politicians, and I think the country should go back to that time of judges living in quarters,” he said.

The NBA chairman urged Mr. Makinde to quickly pay the allowances so judges in the state can do their jobs well and enjoy their annual vacation.

Attempts to contact the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, for his comments were unsuccessful.