A fire outbreak late Sunday night destroyed parts of the Osun State High Court in Ilesa, severely damaging the courtroom and registry. Authorities suspect arson as the likely cause.
Court officials confirmed that the fire was spotted by a passerby and later extinguished by emergency responders. By the time it was put out, several important case files and sensitive court documents had already been lost.
Registrar of the court, Isola Omisade, confirmed the extent of the damage and noted that a full inspection would be carried out to assess the impact. Governor Ademola Adeleke described the incident as a deliberate attack on the judiciary and called for urgent action to identify those behind it. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the governor directed state security agencies to intensify protection around all judicial facilities and ordered immediate repairs to the damaged structure.
Political parties have begun pointing fingers. The All Progressives Congress (APC), through its media director Kola Olabisi, urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. On the other hand, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that the attack was politically motivated. According to the PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, the incident appears connected to an ongoing court case on local government matters being heard at the Ilesa court.
Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed that the fire affected key sections of the building, including the warders’ room. He stated that an investigation had begun, but the actual cause of the fire was still unknown at the time of reporting.
