RULAAC raises alarm over alleged commercialisation of bail in Ogun State Magistrate Courts

Stanley Ihedigbo

Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Honourable Chief Judge of the Ogun State Judiciary over alarming reports of alleged commercialisation of bail, unregulated bondsmen activities, and interference with defence counsel within magistrate courts across the state.

In the petition dated 18 February 2026, Executive Director, RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, highlighted concerns including disproportionate bail sums for minor offences, arbitrary verification fees charged by bondsmen, touting and unprofessional conduct within court premises, and the sidelining of defence lawyers during bail perfection processes.

The organisation noted that some defendants are reportedly compelled to pay exorbitant sums, sometimes exceeding ₦300,000, before trial – a practice it says undermines the constitutional presumption of innocence and transforms bail into a financial penalty.

RULAAC also raised concerns about excessive and arbitrary verification charges, citing instances where fees of ₦60,000 were demanded merely to verify two sureties residing within the same jurisdiction.

The advocacy group further alleged that certain bondsmen routinely approach defendants directly, often bypassing legal representatives, while pro bono defence lawyers are rendered practically ineffective due to the dominance of these private intermediaries.

RULAAC stressed the need for defendants to have a clear and informed choice between using a bondsman or their lawyer in perfecting bail, where legally permissible.

The petition urged the Chief Judge to:
Constitute an administrative inquiry into bail and bondsmen practices across the magistrate courts in Ogun State; issue practice directions establishing proportionate bail benchmarks for common bailable offences; publish a fixed, jurisdiction-based verification fee schedule; regulate bondsmen conduct to prohibit touting and direct solicitation of defendants; mandate explicit communication of defendants’ rights to choose between lawyer surety and bondsmen; and establish a complaint and disciplinary framework for misconduct by bondsmen.

RULAAC concluded that bail exists to secure a defendant’s appearance in court, not to enrich private actors or create hidden financial barriers to liberty, and appealed to the Chief Judge to safeguard the integrity of the justice system and public confidence in the judiciary.