Following a BONews investigation that questioned the delay in the establishment of mobile courts for gender-based violence cases in Osun State, the state government has confirmed that the initiative has not yet been implemented, attributing the delay to challenges within the judicial system.
Responding to the publication on Facebook, Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, said the process of setting up mobile courts is currently being handled by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) under the leadership of the Chief Judge.
He noted that recent crises within the judicial arm had slowed progress.
“Beyond partisan politics, we are all aware of the crisis that bedevilled the judicial arm of government until recent resolution, setting up the mobile courts is being taken up by the JSC under the chairmanship of the Chief Judge. Mr Governor has laid out the policy agenda and you can be rest assured that the CJ will take it up.”
He added that the governor and the state government remain committed to the protection and promotion of women’s rights, stressing that the delay does not signal a reversal of the administration’s policy direction.
The mobile courts were announced by the Ademola Adeleke administration as a fast-track mechanism to handle cases of sexual and gender-based violence, harmful practices and child abuse, with the aim of reducing delays that often discourage survivors from pursuing justice.
However, findings from the BONews investigation revealed that nearly two years after the announcement, there is no visible evidence that the mobile courts have been operationalised in Osun State, despite repeated cases of rape and sexual assault reported across the state.
Interviews conducted by BONews showed that the absence of fast-track judicial mechanisms has contributed to prolonged delays in prosecution, leaving survivors exposed to intimidation, threats and emotional exhaustion. In several cases reviewed, suspects were released before trial, while court proceedings were stalled by adjournments, strikes and slow investigative processes.
Survivors who spoke to BONews said the delays have weakened their confidence in the justice system, with some abandoning their cases entirely after months of waiting without progress. Others reported continued fear and trauma as alleged perpetrators remained free within their communities.
Gender rights advocates also warned that without functional mobile courts, cases of sexual violence risk being trapped in the already congested conventional court system, further impeding timely judgment and undermining accountability for offenders.
The investigation noted that while the state government has repeatedly expressed commitment to protecting women and addressing gender-based violence, the continued delay in implementing the mobile court system has raised concerns about the gap between policy announcements and practical action.