Festus Ogun, a Lagos-based human rights lawyer, has expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ogun State chapter, which has frustrated the defence of #EndSARS protesters languishing in police custody.

Speaking with FIJ on Friday, Ogun noted that no less than three #EndSARS victims are currently in “dungeon cells” in the state.

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“I could have been in court for their cases too,” he said. “In fact, they could have been enjoying the breath of liberty if the courts were not on strike.”

Festus blamed the Ogun State Government for the strike, which started on August 11. He said the members of Ogun State JUSUN are only exercising their right to demand their full salary.

“Court closure rains calamity on the administration of justice, and aids human rights violations,” he said. “It is an aberration that court workers are starved of their entitlements in a democracy. As a lawyer, this development gets me worried.”

Meanwhile, Gbolahan Adeniran, the Attorney General of Ogun State, said the state government could not meet the demand of JUSUN without hurting other workers in the state.

“What JUSUN is asking for will affect law officers, magistrates, doctors and nurses,” Adeniran said. “Ogun State will not be able to meet its salary obligations and will start defaulting.”

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Adeniran said the government had held several meetings with the representatives of JUSUN, and that the recent meeting was positive.

“I actually think the end of the strike is in sight,” he said.