LAST WEEK SEPT/FIRST WEEK OCT 2008

MON. 29TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Public Holiday to mark the end of 30 day long Muslim fast. Of course no court. The squib, in consequence not out. Thank God after a two months partial closure the 3rd Mainland Bridge was re-opened early this morning.

TUE. 30TH SEPTMBER 2008
Public Holiday. For the same reason above. The courts remained closed.

WED. 1ST OCTOBER 2008
Public Holiday, to mark the October 1 1960 independence of Nigeria. Of course the courts remained close. Wonderful, wonderful country. Three public holidays in a row!

THUR. 2ND OCTOBER 2008
Spent a little time at the Lagos High Court. Moved later to the Ikeja High Court.
From some what afar, saw a group of V.I.Ps somewhere on the grounds near the chief Judge’s office. Before long learnt that they were a group of retired judges of Lagos State who came to partake of the “kindness and generousity” of the incumbent leadership of the Lagos State Judiciary which was giving out brand new TOYOTA AVENSIS CARS to retired judges of the state. Before now there were serious but underground complaints by some retired judges that they faced constant humiliation and inconvenience due to having jalopies for vehicles.
While many of the retired judges who came to collect their cars expressed their gratitude and satisfaction for the Judiciary’s kind gesture, former Chief Judge, Ibitola Adebisi Sotuminu C.J sang a different tune.
The former leader of the Lagos Judiciary (2001-2004) declined to collect her car because the colour did not suit her. While a grey coloured car was allocated to her Sotuminu C.J insisted on getting a black-car. When a black car was not readily available “mama” as Sotuminu C.J was better known when in service, well, um, drove off. Geckos heard some by-standers wondering whether it would not have been better for ‘mama’ to collect the car and get it a coat of paint of a suitable colour.

FRI. 3RD OCTOBER 2008
Was at the Lagos High Court. Briefly came to the Ikeja High Court. Geckoed and lawyered about for some time before heading off to Geckosville