FIRST WEEK DECEMBER 2007 (3rd - 7th)

MONDAY 3RD DECEMBER 2007
Squib's out. Cover Story - "The Coup of the Philadelphia 9."
Was at the Lagos High Court.
Saw the floor of the newly refurbished courtroom already cracking up again.

Spent quite a long time in court, before my case was called. Guess life is like that sometimes.

TUESDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2007
Was at the Ikeja High Court in the morning hours. Saw that the Tiger branch had recommenced the building of their new secretariat, after a long lay off. Good development. The Bar Center is already wearing a new face, courtesy of the new erections.

WEDNESDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2007
Was at the Ikeja High Court. Noticed that much of the 'Water Fall Division' was still miry. Incidentally, there're a few other places like that where water from airconditioners collect and settle on bare floor. Beats me - how could educated people allow such mess right under their noses?

THURSDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2007
Was the Lagos High Court for a case. Came late for same because of another case. Went to have a bite but in a rather hot atmosphere.

No power (electricity) in the building. Situation has been like that for about three weeks now.

Heard that the Canteen and all such 'tenants' of the judiciary were unplugged from judiciary's power source on the orders of the Chief Judge, to save the judiciary some costs.

Good idea. But there's a better idea - to make the tenants pay for power consumed monthly. Definitely better and neater than disconnecting tenants and asking them to look for alternative or independent power sources.

Boy, it's no fun eating hot 'amala' with tasty 'Orisirisi' or and a 'headmaster' without some cool air blowing at one. And, just want to ask. If judges patronised the Court Canteens, as lawyers do, would the eateries still be disconnected from the judiciary's power source?

Valedictory Session for recently deceased Honourable Justice Thomas Sheteolu Gomes. Gomes .J retired in 1980 and died at 91.

FRIDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2007
Ikeja High Court. Was there for a case. Matter adjourned for absence of judge. Came down to chamber to some back breaking lawyer's labour.


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http://www.squibcoverstory.blogspot.com

Last Week in November 2007 26th -30th)

SQUIB DIARY

MONDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2007
The Squib’s out. Cover Story – Incredible! Lawyer Detains Lawyer for 4 Days with Ex-parte Application. Was at Bolade Magistrate Court Oshodi. For a case. Trial stalled – prosecutor absent.

TUESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER 2007
Was at the Ikeja High Court. What a day of accidents. Early in the morning, a registry staff was knocked down right in court premises by a “Space Van” bus. The poor woman’s leg was reportedly broken. In the registry a lawyer went down in a faint.

Yet another lawyer fell down on the staircase leading from the Chief Judge’s court.

WEDNESDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2007
Was at the headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command Ikeja. Wearing its neatest look since a decade ago. The police have lost its ‘Garri’ Market aroma and flavour. Well done new Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.

THURSDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 2007
Was at the Ikeja High Court for a case. Did my case and that was that. Went to the WATERFALL DIVISION to see whether it had become DRY LAND DIVISION. Alas, only one of the four courts affected had undergone the needed repairs. Oshodi .J’s court. The other courts still had their air conditioners flooding the corridors with water. Bad. Shameful. The situation should change for the better. Now.

FRIDAY 30TH NOVEMBER 2007
Was at the Magistrate Court Sabo. Case couldn’t go on. Magistrate said to be away to a workshop. Of course no prior notice of the magistrate’s absence to lawyers and litigants alike. Should things continue to go on like this?

Shouldn’t there be to each and every court (Magistrate and High Courts) a permanent telephone line, by which enquiries can be made by counsel about their matters in court? Likewise shouldn’t the registrars of courts have responsibilities of reaching over to counsel, especially when it comes to issues about change of fixed date of hearing and other such matters?

Came over to the Ikeja High Court. Geckoed round a bit. Was at the Juvenile Court. What noisy market type environment that court is in. all manner of hawkers gallivant about the place.


Related links: www.learnedsquib.blogspot.com
www.squibcoverstory.blogspot.com
www.squibreaderspavilion.blogspot.com
www.editorspark.blogspot.com