SECOND WEEK SEPTEMBER 2008 (15TH -19TH)

SQUIB DIARY
MON. 15TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Ikeja High Court. Was there. Had a case before Hon. Justice OBD. ‘Lawyers and Judges’ traffic still light in the court. The Squib’s out. Cover Story on the emergence of Adekunle Ojo as the new 2nd Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association.

TUE. 16TH SEPTEMBER 2008
The magistrate court, Sabo, Yaba. Was there. Saw a magistrate frowning against rather unethical conduct of a defendant’s counsel. The magistrate wondered how counsel would join hands with a litigant to frustrate due adjudication of matters before the court.
Good talk. Hope that other adjudications will be this strong and firm. No single public toilet in the entire court compound. So how do litigants and counsel relieve themselves? Even the toilets for the members of staff are in the main, bad. The judiciary can do much better than this. Its not only judges and magistrates that should enjoy good toilets.
Em, by the way I saw a wonder in the office of the head of administration at the Sabo Magistrate Court. The wonder is the visitor’s chair in the madam’s office. That chair, if you can call it that reminded me of the squashed up mouth of an idiot. It is an affront to ask any visitor there to “take your seat”. It is an insult to the office holder. It is an embarrassment, an eye sore to the judiciary. I beg, that mangled carcass of a visitor’s chair in the office of the Assistant chief registrar, Magistrate Court Sabo Yaba should be changed immediately

WED. 17TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Was at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti Street Yaba. Spent some time and left. Can you imagine this-there is a place they sell good honey in this famous police station. Certainly one of the few sweet spots in that station.
Later in the afternoon, heard of the closure of the CHANNELS TELEVISION STATION by policemen and State Security Services Operatives.
CHANNELS’ offence-broadcast of claim that President Musa-Yar’dua would resign from office after an imminent cabinet reshuffle. According to government, that claim was untrue. But did that justify the closure of the T.V station?

THUR. 18TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Was at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere. The public toilet there (the one in the corridor to the court of Appeal) still in good condition. Well kept. ‘Strolled’ into Hon. Justice Oluwayemi’s Court. Wow what a beautiful, decorum-inducing and justice inciting court room. Neat, very well lit court. Nice, very nice wood paneling. Even an accused will not mind to be sentenced to a long stretch at the Max, Kirikiri, in this court. Hope the structures last however.

FRI. 19TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Was at the SCID Panti, a follow up to my Wednesday visit. Today was engaged in a discussion by a cop in the administrative section of the Legal Department.
COP: Ha barrister you are here?
Lawyer: Yes I am.
COP: What you gave to do the job was small. Not enough to do the work.
Lawyer: But the job has been done. The verification of the sureties houses have been done.
COP: Which work is done? He said you gave only …… naira
Lawyer: That’s what I have. And the job is done
COP: The job is done? Well let me tell you, how can you just give somebody just ………… naira and expect him to go to all those places in Oworo and swear to affidavit backing his visits. No problem since the officer concerned has done the work. But if were me, never!
Lawyer: Well, thank you.