4TH WEEK MARCH 09 (23RD - 27TH)

MONDAY 23RD MARCH 2009
The Squib’s out. Cover story -: Popular Lagos Judge Akande J in Motor Accident Tragedy. Heard it was selling like fairly hot cake. Attended the 2nd meeting of the Local organizing Committee of the NBA for the 2009 Conference. The meeting held in the LOC Secretariat, the Bar Centre of the NBA Ikeja branch.

TUESDAY 24TH MARCH 2009
Was at the Ikeja High Court. Witnessed an interesting case. A criminal case. Where the bail of a defendant was cut and the man sent to prison after disagreed with the presiding judge over interpretation of Section 273 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2007. While the judge said the law did not make the reading of final written addresses in open court mandatory, counsel maintained otherwise. Judge offered that counsel should take his address (No Case Submission) as read and had court’s permission to speak or comment on it. When counsel demurred on that offer, court ruled that counsel’s refusal to take the court’s offer is an abuse of judicial proceeding show that the defence “might have something up their sleeves” and promptly cut the defendant’s bail and adjourned the matter. I was there when the man was taken away to prison with his wives and children weeping bitterly.

WEDNESDAY 25TH MARCH 2009
Was at the Lagos High Court, this morning. For two cases. Got two fellows off the look. Gays had been on trial for sic years for armed robbery. Prosecution all the while had called just one witness who never came back for continuation of examination in chief. Later left for the Ikeja High Court. couldn’t leave the Ikeja Court until 4.00p.m. Saw a good cross-examiner in action, in the Ikeja High Court. fairly unusual state counsel, by name “your time will come”

THURSDAY 26TH MARCH 2009
Was at the Lagos High Court Igbosere. For a case. left the Island in good time as the mater (a murder) case could not go on. Sorted out one or two things in court before leaving for the Mainland.

FRIDAY 27TH MARCH 2009
Was kept very busy, in the chambers this morning overcoming the conspiracy mounted against the chambers, by revolting generating sets and crafting a petition against the interesting honourable judge. Got to the Ikeja High Court, very late in the afternoon. Saw a few Tigers in their Secretariat, the Bar Centre of the Ikeja High Court. After some Tiger talk, we all left the ‘lair. Couldn’t but help notice that the building next door (that of the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission) is very near completion. Really hope the building of our new Secretariat, will follow suit, very soon.

Interesting, I say, interesting. The exit of Honourable Justice Alaba Marsh from the Lagos State Judiciary. The exit was anything but ‘regular’ in that it was not marked with the usual ceremony of a valedictory session which traditionally holds at the Foyer of the Lagos State High Court. Geckos told the Squib that a quiet exit was preferred by the honourable judge who approached the Chief Judge for the “monetization” of his valedictory service, which is to say budget for his valedictory service be remitted to him instead. According to the honourable judge valedictory service or no, when I leave the judiciary people will forget about me. It is when you are in power or positions that people remember you.”

The Chief Judge, we learnt met Alaba J mid-way. Although no valedictory service was held for Alaba J as requested the judge was not allowed to go “quietly, completely into the dark.”
A “fare well ceremony” was instead, organized for him. Only the 12 most Senior Judges from Akande J to Oyekan-Abdullai J were invited to the ceremony. The venue was the Judge’s Conference Room, Ikeja High Court.