1ST WEEK OCTOBER 09(5TH - 10TH)

SQUIBDIARY



MONDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2009
The Squib’s out. Cover story-“Why They Are After Me” -Dele Oye NBA PROSECUTOR CRIES OUT.
Spent hours with the motor-repair man. Came late for the Tiger Bar meeting. But still met some action. The talk on the floor when I came in was on the controversy of scrapping the Senior Advocate of Nigeria Award or not.
Incidentally at the meeting of about 200 lawyers, only one Senior Advocate - Dele Adesina S.A.N, formerly Deacon, now pastor was present.
Wondered at his feelings as criticisms of his class and rank flowed ceaselessly. Hot, sharp criticisms for that matter. When the silk spoke, it was a dance in all directions before finally gravitating to an imprecise centre. Can’t blame the poor silk, he was in a lonely minority, more like a case of “Christian seek yet no rest for you are amidst foes!"

Another interesting topic of discussion was the imprisonment of Mr. Adebayo Jegede by Justice Olusola Williams for criminal contempt. Jegede, called to the bar in 1972, was found by the judge to have attacked and lower the reputation of another Lagos State Judge, Okunnu J. in an affidavit.
At the end of the day, the consensus appeared to be that, lawyers no matter the provocation from the bench should refrain from being caught in a situation where they could properly be tried for contempt by the courts.

TUESDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2009
Was in court - the Ikeja High Court for a matter, which did not go on. Nonetheless had an interesting time in the very court. Heard from the presiding judge, the story of the Hyena and the Hunter’s Dog. See, please the Learned Squib page for elaboration. http://www.learnedsquib.blogspot.com

Heard about the sudden death of, Mr. Oluwatobi Francis Morighanfen, a member of the sheriffs corps of the Lagos State Judiciary.
Popularly called Tobi, Morighafen, 37, a beefy six-footer plus, was reportedly found stone dead in a gutter somewhere in Ikorodu Town in the early morning hours of 1st October 2009.
According to geckos, though dead, Tobi had no visible, external injury on his body, but clutched some naira notes in his palm (about N1,800.00) and his shirt (uniform) and phone were found in his bag but his trousers was in some places be-splattered with mud.

There is a general suspicion among Lagos Judiciary Staff, particularly, his fellow sheriffs, that his death was violent and un-natural and came from now unknown person(s) opined a source.
“Some of our colleagues received a call in the morning of 1st October 2009 from Tobi’s wife that her husband did not sleep at home on September 30 which was very unusual of him.

A search party was raised to find him and at about 10.00am, we found his body in the morgue at Ikorodu. The police at Owutu explained to us that they were alerted by some members of the public to the presence of a corpse and it turned out to be him.
Our shock was that all through 30th September 2009, Tobi was okay. He was normally a healthy lively fellow who loved to eat amala with some of our colleagues.

He was still in the premises till about 6.00pm, after having some drinks but some people said he had N150,000.00 with him - for the performance of an imminent execution.
Then we were told that one of the ladies who work in the courts here saw him around 10.00pm on his way to his house, but that he was having some hot argument with some policemen who arrested the “okada” man who was ferrying him to his destination.

According to the lady, she pleaded with the late Tobi to go on his way but he insisted on staying back with the Okada man whom he believed was just being cheated by the police-men.

At a point time, so claimed the lady, one of the policemen came to tell Tobi that the fact of his being a judiciary staff meant nothing to them and that it was only in the courts that Tobi could exercise any power.”
The late Morghanfen, is survived by his wife and three children. Who killed the Sheriff? And what exactly are Tobi’s employers doing about the tragic development?

WEDNESDAY 7TH OCTOBER 2009
Was at the Ikeja High court. Heard the depressing news that within a fortnight, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) would embark on another round of industrial action.
JUSUN’s complaint is the government’s failure to honour her agreement with the union on the new salary structure for judiciary workers all over the country.
A credible source told the Squib that as per the agreement, the lowest paid judiciary staff, on Grade 1, will earn a N27,000.00 monthly salary as opposed to (in Lagos State) the present N7,000 he receives.
So far according to our source, only two states of the 31 state federation has honoured the agreement. It would be recalled that last time the JUSUN went on strike, courts were shut down for 42 days from December 1 2008 to Jan 12 2009.
It was a strike that made many lawyers, particularly advocates go hungry as they were rustificated from practicing their trade by the closure of the courts.
Except something positive and urgent is done about JUSUN’s notice of strike, history will repeat itself. Why, I ask is it so difficult to take care of so called junior workers? Why?

THURSDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2009
Was at the Ikeja High Court. For a case that went on. I’ve been seeing something to cheer about, since Monday. The NBA Ikeja has finally started in earnest to replace its ‘ile-eye' (bird’s nest) of a secretariat with a bigger and more befitting structure.
Saw all manners of work men toiling on the site. Some of these workers in the course of their work, unearthed some dirty ugly secrets long buried below the earth. Could you guess what these secrets were? The name starts with a C and ends with an N’. There is ‘D’ in the middle. Do you think it is Condemn? Ha!ha!ha!

FRIDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2009
Was at the Ikeja High Court. While geckoing about, forgot my car key in a particular place. Retrieved it safely, sha after some moments of anxiety, then continued geckoing! That, after rushing my court-room wig and gown business.
Oh my God, Justice Alogba’s court again! I mean the entrance to that court is such a mess and an eye-sore. Even worse - a cesspit of dangerous diseases like dysentery, diarrhea, typhoid etc. Burst sewage floods the place with the unmentionable. Imagine the stink!
Hope our brand new Chief Judge is reading this.

SATURDAY 9TH OCTOBER 2009
Was at the Police College. This morning. With four other colleagues for our Tiger Bar week-end sports programme. Pray, where are the other Tigers. Mates you are missing some great fun. Pls come and 'shake body.' You’ve got nothing to lose, except some fat!