FIRST WEEK OCTOBER 2007

SQUIB DIARY by Adesina Ogunlana www.squibanticorruption.com


FIRST WEEK OCTOBER 2007
Monday 1st October 2007
Public Holiday. Nigeria’s Independence Day. SQUIB under production.

Tuesday 2nd October 2007
Squib’s out. Cover Story on the investigation of the House of Assembly on the financial accounts of the Lagos State Judiciary.

Was at the Lagos High Court. Received a shock in Honourable Justice Kayode Ogunmekan’s court. The shocker was that less than two weeks after the court’s newly completed floor was completed, it was already cracking up! Attended the special valedictory court session for late Sobo Sowemimo SAN at the foyer of the Lagos High Court.

Wednesday 3rd October 2007
Was at the Lagos High Court for an election petition matter. Otunba Abimbola Adegbesan vs. INEC and Ors. Witnessed an infuriated lawyer (whose car was blocked by one of the new Lagos Judiciary Staff buses at the car park) and a security man. In fact, the bus blocked off no less than six other cars. The infuriated lawyer was mad with the security man for allowing the driver of the bus to park the way he did and walk away! The security man claimed helplessness in the circumstances. Thought the counsel was right and wrong at the same time. Right in his points, but wrong, very wrong in shouting and screaming abuses, even maledictions in the court premises. A classic “Agbero” (motor park tout) protest act. Not good enough comportment for a counsel with over a decade of practice at the bar. You want to know the counsel? Sorry but won’t satisfy your curiosity.

Thursday 4th October 2007
Nowhere near the courts today. Went to Kirikiri. The Max. Met with one or two clients there. While waiting at the rustic reception point to see the clients, witnessed routine extortion of other visitors to the place by warders on security duty there. Applications to see inmates are processed for a fee. Subtle intimidation and cajolery of people were routine by the warders to get some bucks. Are their superiors unaware of this ugly and shameful exercise? At the Lagos High Court, another valedictory session was held for another departed silk – Olatunji Lardner SAN. Learnt that Governor Raji Fashola SAN came to Ikeja High Court to present new vehicles to fourteen (14) magistrates. Lucky chaps. All their other colleagues had collected their own cars about two years ago. Well, better late than never. Say?

Friday 5th October 2007
Was at the Ikeja High Court. Was in Justice J.O.K Oyewole’s court. Saw how the court freed a young woman prosecuted by the EFCC on an 8 count charge. Hardly had the judge pronounced her not guilty that the stunned girl bolted out of the court room in unbelieving joy. Well, can you blame her? Certainly it was no easy road to freedom.