SQUIB DIARY
MONDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2008
Squib’s out. Cover story – Lawyer In Soup for forgery of High Court Judgment Court. Was at the Magistrate Court Bolade Oshodi for a case. A Brothers Versus Sisters Case. Later was off to the Maximum Security Prison, KiriKiri. There, saw quite a number of the followers of a deity on death row. Thought about the African mind and religion.
TUESDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court. Saw officials of KICK AGAINST INDISCIPLINE corps closing the stalls of law books and wears sellers. I wonder at their action. What indiscipline was involved in this case? What environmental nuisance was committed? These sellers are neat, orderly, provide useful services to lawyers and are not vagrants or squatters so why the harassment?
Think the NBA should look into the matter. Incidentally Muiz Banire the Commissioner of Environment is a lawyer. Was he not a practicing lawyer, before? before?
The verdict was out. The verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on the Atiku Vs Yar’Adua case and the Buhari Vs Yar Adua case. The two petitioners lost out. Judgement broadcast on radio and television… But what for?
WEDNESDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2008
Was at the Lagos State High court. First time in there, for a case this year. Something rather unusual happened today in Honourable Gbajabiamila’s court. The Honourable Judge was held down in chambers sorting out an ugly dispute between one of his registrars, Sokenu, and a legal practitioner.
The lawyer’s grouse? After being made to part with N5,000:00 to Sokenu to obtain a CTC of a ruling or record of proceedings, the same registrar demanded for more money “to perform.” To the annoyance of the lawyer who went to report the registrar to the judge. When His lordship Gbajabiamila J finally came to the open court, he advised and warned lawyers not to give money to his registrars to get their work done.
Doing so, said the honourable judge would only make the registrars more corrupt.” It will be recalled that only last year one other registrar of the court, Akeem was transferred from the court for being involved in a bribery/extortion issue. Ironically, the registrar presently involved in a similar case was as a “Mr. Clean” at that time. Nigeria!
THURSDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2008
Struggled to reach the Magistrate court, Oyingbo today. In good time. Only to learn that courts were not sitting. Magistrates were off to the valedictory session for late Otunba T.O.S Benson S.A.N. Left for Lagos High Court venue of Benson’s “special session.”
Saw some ‘who’s who’ in the legal profession at the occasion. But was rather busy doing, you guess right, geckoing. In the afternoon arrived the Ministry of Justice, Alausa. Everybody, almost everybody was walking on air, their heads in cloud 9. Why, why not? Four of them state counsel, to wit – Solicitor General Olaide Olayinka, D.P.P, Bola Okikiolu – Ighile, OPD Czarina, Bisi Akinlade and Deputy Director of Civil Litigation – Kudirat Jose, are now Judges – Desgnate. That is, that is, they are the new Lagos State Judges in waiting. The other would be new judges are Mr. Afeez Dabiri, the Chief Registrar and Mr. Lawal Akapo, an age long contender. If the news is true and it appears so true then the Squib wishes our new milords and miladies, a happy and useful stay on the bench.
FRIDAY 29TH FEBRUARY 2008
Was in Chambers, throughout. Geckos sent in reports however. Heard that many judges did not sit. Away to a funeral. Funeral of T.O.S Benson S.A.N; Nigerian First Minister of Information. a.k.a Jagunlabi Adekilumo.
Vanity upon vanity
All, is, vanity
