SQUIB DIARY
MONDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2008
The Squib’s out. Cover Story- DE - BRANDING NBA - How Agbakoba’s Zoning formular will kill the NBA. Was at the Ikeja High Court. Normal Monday morning sights. Strolled round the place. Gecko style.
TUESDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court. Rushed there from the Super Screen Television Station, Onipanu. Had a case before Obadina J. A judgment in an EFCC matter. The hour long judgment ended in our favour. Oh, but what a judgment! It swung this way, then swung that way - counsel hearts were in their mouths. Couldn’t imagine what the accused person would have felt if he understood all what the honourable judge was saying. Tell you, ignorance is bliss.
WEDNESDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 2008
On my way to Makurdi, Benue State. With two other tigers - for NBA NEC Meeting. Though long a journey (some eleven hours on the road) it was not a bore. As usual with Tigers on road journeys, it was jokes, chatting, and feasting all the way. Arrived Makurdi in the evening only to learn that it was a taxi - less State capital. Phew! Even the Okadas work only till 8.00p.m. interesting?
THURSDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2008
My day of glory! In the morning, was just a commoner. Before noon became a High Chief, the HU-OR-O TIV- friend of the T.V nation. NBA NEC started 9.00a.m, ended 2.00p.m Up President Agbakoba! Saw aspirants in the August General Elections, particularly the presidential candidates, Dele Adesina SAN and Rotimi Akeredolu SAN (Aketi) taking political strolls and handshakes and making vote winning speeches and giving sweet smiles.
Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue State, came to the opening session. Lunched the NBA Journal for four million naira! I was happy but wonder whether Government would give, say, the Farmers Union such a hefty amount like that.
Saw Professor Ernest Ojukwu on the floor of the meeting talking enthusiastically about the continuous Legal/Education Scheme of the NBA for lawyers. Good talk but why did the learned law school chieftain adorn his fore-head with his glasses while addressing us. Reminded me of Boy-Alinco. Serious. Interestingly Olisa Agbakoba SAN, president of the NBA smoothly smothered any serious discussion, talkless of adoption of his controversial zoning formula. May be the man smelled big battle in the air. Clearly majority of members are against the promotion of tribalism in the NBA.
A lot of heat generated over what the position of the NBA on Professor Maurice Iwu the much vilified-chairman of the unpopular Independent National Electoral Commission should be. At the end of day it was resolved that the NBA should take what the Great De-Brander called strong advocacy measures against Iwu-whatever that actually means!
Later in the evening with other attendees, went to a restaurant - Father’s Moustache for a buffet. Father’s Moustache? What a name for a restaurant!
FRIDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 2008
Back to Lagos from Makurdi. Incident - less. Praise God!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
SECOND WEEK FEBRUARY 2008 (11TH - 15TH )
SQUIB DIARY
MONDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2008
The Squib’s not out. Reason? The courts are shut down. Shut down since the 4th. Judiciary Workers (judges and magistrates excluded) on strike over poor conditions of service.
Came to the Ikeja High Court. The gates locked up. Learnt that the Federal High Court Lagos and the Court of Appeal opened though.
The Bar Centre was open. Spent some time there chatting with some “rusticated” colleagues. Six days running and the strike is already biting lawyers hard.
Of course, the striking workers were not lame balls too. According to some wiggers ( lawyers), some of the strikers have started paying “courtesy visits” to lawyers’ chambers, not out of the goodness of their hearts but for some sort of “fine bara.” How really true is that?
TUESDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2008
As a lawyer on forced holiday, worked quietly in my chambers.
WEDNESDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2008
Was at the Ministry of Justice today. Saw some friends. Ran into Mrs. Tola Rotimi’s mini birthday party. The dishy dame was 400-340+12-129x2years, today. Don’t tell me you are working out the sums. Well, had a nice time at Tola’s office party. Ate some sumptuous cake and danced to X Project of Sierra Naija.
I beg, no harm in dancing to “O ti faya gbe” vibes when you were in the throes of a workers’ strike.
Very late in the evening, heard that the JUSUN Strike had been suspended. Hurray?
THURSDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2008
At last, the valentine day of love is here. Came to court, expecting work in earnest. Sorry, nothing of such. Only few workers turned up, so cases were adjourned. Couldn’t but help wonder what the workers have actually achieved with the 9 - day strike? Went down to “Great LASU” to attend the Declaration of the New Year of the Judicial Council of the Students’ Union. It was nice seeing Law Students of the varsity (LASU) black and white. In our days, anything, or just about anything went.
Read of the death of Chief Theophilus Benson S.A.N a.k.a ‘Tos’. Tos was more of a politician than a lawyer. The gregarious, flamboyant Ikorodu native passed away at 90, yesterday.
FRIDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court for a few minutes today. Noticed the place was more lively than it was yesterday. Full normalcy would, hopefully return Monday next.
MONDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2008
The Squib’s not out. Reason? The courts are shut down. Shut down since the 4th. Judiciary Workers (judges and magistrates excluded) on strike over poor conditions of service.
Came to the Ikeja High Court. The gates locked up. Learnt that the Federal High Court Lagos and the Court of Appeal opened though.
The Bar Centre was open. Spent some time there chatting with some “rusticated” colleagues. Six days running and the strike is already biting lawyers hard.
Of course, the striking workers were not lame balls too. According to some wiggers ( lawyers), some of the strikers have started paying “courtesy visits” to lawyers’ chambers, not out of the goodness of their hearts but for some sort of “fine bara.” How really true is that?
TUESDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2008
As a lawyer on forced holiday, worked quietly in my chambers.
WEDNESDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2008
Was at the Ministry of Justice today. Saw some friends. Ran into Mrs. Tola Rotimi’s mini birthday party. The dishy dame was 400-340+12-129x2years, today. Don’t tell me you are working out the sums. Well, had a nice time at Tola’s office party. Ate some sumptuous cake and danced to X Project of Sierra Naija.
I beg, no harm in dancing to “O ti faya gbe” vibes when you were in the throes of a workers’ strike.
Very late in the evening, heard that the JUSUN Strike had been suspended. Hurray?
THURSDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2008
At last, the valentine day of love is here. Came to court, expecting work in earnest. Sorry, nothing of such. Only few workers turned up, so cases were adjourned. Couldn’t but help wonder what the workers have actually achieved with the 9 - day strike? Went down to “Great LASU” to attend the Declaration of the New Year of the Judicial Council of the Students’ Union. It was nice seeing Law Students of the varsity (LASU) black and white. In our days, anything, or just about anything went.
Read of the death of Chief Theophilus Benson S.A.N a.k.a ‘Tos’. Tos was more of a politician than a lawyer. The gregarious, flamboyant Ikorodu native passed away at 90, yesterday.
FRIDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court for a few minutes today. Noticed the place was more lively than it was yesterday. Full normalcy would, hopefully return Monday next.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
FOURTH WEEK JANUARY (28TH - 1ST FEB)
SQUIB DIARY
MONDAY 28TH JANUARY, 2008
Squib’s out, Cover Story - Lagos State Police Commissioner (M.D Abubakar) Speaks out.
Was briefly at the Sabo Magistrate Court Yaba, for a case. Presiding Magistrate absent. Sad but normal to come to court only to learn that presiding officers are absent. No notice. No apology. Gods don’t apologise, I guess, at least, to mere mortals. Nonsense! Moved to the Magistrate Court, Ebute - Metta for another case. What a court! The roads that led there, choked, narrow and craggy! Bedlam right, left and centre, even overhead. Of about eight magistrates in the court, only one was present. The others reportedly, had gone off to a workshop, so important that it could only take place on a Monday morning!
What an unfeeling, uncaring judiciary. Fortunately, the only magistrate about entertained my matter, a new case. At the Ebute-Metta, heard quite a few complaints from lawyers who practice regularly there about Magistrate Meigbope. All sorts of complaints.
Incidentally, Meigbope was the same honourable worship who presided over my (clients’) case.
TUESDAY 29TH JANUARY, 2008
Came briefly to the Ikeja High Court. Was shown more used ‘rubbers’ in certain crevices in the NBA Ikeja Secretariat. Someone told me that the Learned Squib article “The Secret Impediment” on the phenomenon only served to encourage more lovers to storm NBA Ikeja Secretariat for performance.
Followed a client down to a citadel of learning. Client was to face a Disciplinary Committee of the citadel. Committee told client ‘Sorry you can’t come with your lawyer to appear before us.”
Committee herself had in attendance on her team at least two lawyers but said client should do without a lawyer. Interesting.
Interesting. But more interesting was it when client asked for permission to go and consult his lawyer whether to face committee alone or not. Permission denied. Most interesting.
WEDNESDAY 30TH JANUARY, 2008
Was at the Bedlam Magistrate Court. Ebute-Metta Magistrate Court, I mean to say. Court did not seat. Could not seat. Registrar absent. Off to ……… workshop! Left for the Ikeja High Court. Saw a number of Law School students moving about. Most appeared well dressed and suitably comported. But heard of a duo who practiced randy jurisprudence, kissing, necking and smooching in broad-day light under and about the “SQUIB ROTUNDA” in the Ikeja High Court Compound A last week.
THURSDAY 31ST JANUARY, 2008
Once again at the EMMC. As ‘bedlamatic’ as ever. Within an hour or so, finished with my business. Came to the Ikeja High Court. By sheer serendipity, heard of the passing away of Hon Justice. A.N Kessington. Heard also that JUSAN workers may embark on a strike next week. Nothing is certain though.
FRIDAY 1ST FEBRUARY, 2008
Didn’t go to any court today. But was at a Police Station (Pedro) and later, at the Ministry of Justice. Partly for lawyers’ business, partly for gecko’s business.
MONDAY 28TH JANUARY, 2008
Squib’s out, Cover Story - Lagos State Police Commissioner (M.D Abubakar) Speaks out.
Was briefly at the Sabo Magistrate Court Yaba, for a case. Presiding Magistrate absent. Sad but normal to come to court only to learn that presiding officers are absent. No notice. No apology. Gods don’t apologise, I guess, at least, to mere mortals. Nonsense! Moved to the Magistrate Court, Ebute - Metta for another case. What a court! The roads that led there, choked, narrow and craggy! Bedlam right, left and centre, even overhead. Of about eight magistrates in the court, only one was present. The others reportedly, had gone off to a workshop, so important that it could only take place on a Monday morning!
What an unfeeling, uncaring judiciary. Fortunately, the only magistrate about entertained my matter, a new case. At the Ebute-Metta, heard quite a few complaints from lawyers who practice regularly there about Magistrate Meigbope. All sorts of complaints.
Incidentally, Meigbope was the same honourable worship who presided over my (clients’) case.
TUESDAY 29TH JANUARY, 2008
Came briefly to the Ikeja High Court. Was shown more used ‘rubbers’ in certain crevices in the NBA Ikeja Secretariat. Someone told me that the Learned Squib article “The Secret Impediment” on the phenomenon only served to encourage more lovers to storm NBA Ikeja Secretariat for performance.
Followed a client down to a citadel of learning. Client was to face a Disciplinary Committee of the citadel. Committee told client ‘Sorry you can’t come with your lawyer to appear before us.”
Committee herself had in attendance on her team at least two lawyers but said client should do without a lawyer. Interesting.
Interesting. But more interesting was it when client asked for permission to go and consult his lawyer whether to face committee alone or not. Permission denied. Most interesting.
WEDNESDAY 30TH JANUARY, 2008
Was at the Bedlam Magistrate Court. Ebute-Metta Magistrate Court, I mean to say. Court did not seat. Could not seat. Registrar absent. Off to ……… workshop! Left for the Ikeja High Court. Saw a number of Law School students moving about. Most appeared well dressed and suitably comported. But heard of a duo who practiced randy jurisprudence, kissing, necking and smooching in broad-day light under and about the “SQUIB ROTUNDA” in the Ikeja High Court Compound A last week.
THURSDAY 31ST JANUARY, 2008
Once again at the EMMC. As ‘bedlamatic’ as ever. Within an hour or so, finished with my business. Came to the Ikeja High Court. By sheer serendipity, heard of the passing away of Hon Justice. A.N Kessington. Heard also that JUSAN workers may embark on a strike next week. Nothing is certain though.
FRIDAY 1ST FEBRUARY, 2008
Didn’t go to any court today. But was at a Police Station (Pedro) and later, at the Ministry of Justice. Partly for lawyers’ business, partly for gecko’s business.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)