2ND WEEK SEPTEMBER 2008 (8TH - 12TH)

SQUIB DIARY

MON. 8TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Was at the Cathedral Church of Christ Marina, Lagos for the New Legal Year celebration. My first time of coming to the Lagos Island since July. After the church service, repaired to the Lagos high Court for the usual march past parade ceremony. Only 31 judges out of about 50 came for the event. Unlike previous years only few lawyers turned up too.

TUE. 9TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court. Activites still dull here. Many of the High Courts not yet open for business despite that the New Legal Year has started. Saw serious renovation work going on in some court rooms at the courts complex. Why is there no end to renovation of structures in a new building commissioned for use less than five years ago?

WED. 10TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Was at the Maximum Security Prison, Kirikiri, Lagos. Noticed a new quietness about the place. Was told that a big-man inmate-Emeka Ezeugo a.k.a Reverend King, a murder convict, who used to receive dozens of visitors daily has been transferred out, to Kuje Prisons Abuja.
Left the Max place for the Ikeja High Court. New leaders of the NBA Ikeja met with the Chief Judge of Lagos State Adetula Alabi J. today.
An interesting meeting if you ask me. These were the five great declarations of the honourable Chief Judge.
1. The root of bitterness between the C.J and the Ikeja bar (the recommendation of the bar that Alabi J. (as he then was should not be made the Chief Judge after Fatai Adeyinka C.J.) has been uprooted
2. The honourable Chief Judge believes in the mutual and profitable interdepence of the bar and the bench.
3. The honourable Chief Judge is not a wicked or a difficult person but rather a soft-hearted one, who can even be manipulated if approached in the right manner
4. The honourable Chief Judge has no skeleton in his cupboard and so has nothing to hide.
5. The honourable Chief Judge will hold Dave Ajetomobi chairman, NBA Ikeja responsible for any break down in communication between the bench and the (Ikeja) bar since he, Ajetomobi is free henceforth to approach the Chief Judge on any issue pertaining to the bar and the Judiciary.
Didn’t I tell you it was an interesting meeting?

THUR. 11TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court. Not much going on.

FRI. 12TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court Attended to one or two Ikeja Bar matters. Moved on the attend Doyin Kembi’s marriage engagement programme. Doyin is a barrister, her father too, a barrister.

4TH WEEK JUNE 2008 (23RD - 27TH)

SQUIB DIARY

MON. 23RD JUNE 2008
The Squib’s out. Cover Story - NBA Ikeja 2008 elections latest: fear grips candidates. Also on the cover was the story of Barrister Jide Aladejobi’s reprieve from the order of disbarment on him. Was at the Magistrate court Tapa. For a case. The court room is a converted “container cabin.” Hope, litigants will not at the end of the day receive, “Container judgements”?

TUE. 24TH JUNE 2008
Was at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere. Oh, what a rainy day! At least it was a four hour down pour. No light in the High Court. The courts became very dim and so work could not go on. Witnessed a judge, Sola Williams J trying valiantly to continue sitting. His Lordship gave up after thirty minutes as the court got dimmer and dimmer. The list was out. List of those qualified to participate in the NBA Ikeja branch elections 2008. Just as the SQUIB predicted, only about 50% of the contestants were cleared by the Layi Babatunde S.A.N Electoral Committee. The big name victims were Niyi Akinmola and Dele Oloke, chairmanship aspirants.

WED. 25TH JUNE 2008
Was at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere. A wasteful journey as the courts did not sit. Again no light. And justice could not be dished out in darkness. What a bad situation really? For power outage to sabotage the administration of justice! Even no diesel could be found for the generator.

THUR. 26TH JUNE 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court. For one or two cases. The judges sat and the cases went on. Noticed that for some time now, the toilets of the secretariat of the Ikeja bar had become unapproachable. So people have been approaching the back of the building to relieve themselves. Mercifully of only the No. 1 Tigers, please do something about your toilets. Quick. It is a nose and eye sore.

FRI. 27TH JUNE 2008

Came to the Ikeja High Court, rather late in the afternoon. Missed the seminar on commercial law organised by the Ministry of Justice. Who will defend me before Titi Shitta-Bey? That good lady gave me a special invitation to the event and I didn’t come, Titi, next time, I’II be there.

SECOND WEEK JUNE 2008 (9TH - 13TH )

SQUIB DIARY

MON. 9TH JUNE 2008
The Squib’s out. Cover story - The Great Assignment (NBA Ikeja New Electoral Committee headed by Layi Babatunde S.A.N). Had one or two matters before one of my favourite judges. Neither went on. Couldn’t get cost either. The cost I got was cost in cause. That’s something, I guess.
Went later to Lagos High Court. Attended the NBA Lagos branch special session for late Professor Jadesola Akande who died in April, 2008. Well attended ceremony. About three hundred lawyers present. Saw some judges too. Earlier on in the day, learnt about the death (murder?) of one Lateef Osho Jogunomi an auxiliary staff of the Sheriff Department, Lagos State Judiciary. Jogunomi died on Saturday 7th June 2008, from head injuries sustained from attack by a LASTMA Staff.

TUE. 10TH JUNE 2008
Was at the Lagos High Court. For one or two cases. Had an interesting time in one of the courts as the judge turned emergency pastor and gave serious, motherly counselling to a distressed litigant. It was one of those husband/wife palava cases

WED. 11TH JUNE 2008
Ikeja High Court. Was there. Had a swell time in Court Justice Dada’s Court. Saw the conversion of a sure prison term of a convict to a fine payable within 14days. How humane of the judge! The conversion reminded of the famous shakespearese
“the quality of mercy
is not strained………
In the evening heard the news of the death of Lamidi Adedibu, the hugely controversial and influential Ibadan High Chief and politician. Adedibu in the prime of his powers was a licensed political bully and bulldozer, who without holding any government post trampled on Governors, Ministers, parliamentarians etc.
The source of his powers? Grass-roots appeal and presidential support of Olusegun Obasanjo who ruled Nigeria from 1999- 2007.

THUR. 12TH JUNE 2008
In Lagos State, no work. The government as usual since 1999 declared today a public holiday in honour of the general elections of June 12 1993, which result were annulled on June 23 1993. The annulment of the election which would have produced Moshood Kashimawo Abiola as President gave rise to the crisis which ultimately led to the birth of the fourth republic.

FRI. 13TH JUNE 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court. For a case. Matter did not go on. Geckoed around and about. Spoke on phone with Mr. Layi Babatunde S.A.N, the Chairman of the reconstituted Electoral Committee of the NBA Ikeja branch. He would not give the date when the postponed elections will would take place. According to the silk, “we are still looking at the records submitted to us for screening the candidates. Nonetheless we are conscious of the time requirement for the election in the bye-law and shall abide with it. The preparation for the election must be solid that’s what the election itself will stand on. We’ll come out with our finding before the election is held”

Last Week in May 2008 (26th -30th)

SQUIB DIARY

MON. 26TH MAY 2008
The Squib’s out-Cover story Help! Tiger Bar in Danger. Was at the Ikeja High Court later in the afternoon after spending some-time at the Maximum Security Prisons, Kirikiri. As a visitor.

TUE. 27TH MAY 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court. In the afternoon. Had a go at Rex Onobrakpeya Esq., the self made chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA Ikeja. Accused him of partiality and unilaterial decision in clearing all the contestants for the June elections of the Tiger Bar. Our quarrel was later settled. Parted as friends again.

WED. 28TH MAY 2008
Out on campaign, campaign for Dave Ajetomobi-the correct choice for the chairmanship of the Ikeja bar.

THUR. 29TH MAY 2008
Democracy day. No courts in session. Govt. declares public holiday. Spent practically the whole day doing political work for our candidates in the June 2008 elections.

FRI. 30TH MAY 2008
Spent some time in chambers earlier on in the day. In the afternoon was off for campaigns. Started smelling victory, already.

3RD WEEK MAY, 2008 (19TH -23RD)

Squib Diary

Monday 19th May 2008
The Squib’s out. Cover story-NBA 2008 Elections. Will the Tigers follow the law? Was at the Ikeja High court, for my cases. One went on, the other didn’t.

Tuesday 20th May 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court for two cases, in the same court. The Judge was however not available. Quite unusual of Oyefeso J.

Wednesday 21st May 2008
Had matters at the Ikeja High court. None went on. Ouch!

Thursday 22nd May 2008
Was in the chambers in the morning hours. Then went to Ikeja High Court. Noticed that the Ikeja Bar is ‘pregnant’ with the imminent branch elections on June 2 2008.

Friday 23rd May 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court. For a case. Criminal. The witness for the prosecution absent due to bereavement. Case adjourned without much fuss. Buried today, Barrister Abraham Adesanya leader of the Afenifere and leader of the Yoruba. Adesanya, 86, died about six weeks ago. May his soul rest in peace.

FIRST WEEK MAY 2008(5TH - 9TH)

SQUIB DIARY

MON. 5TH MAY
Squib’s out. Cover story :'Like A Diamond In the Sky' – Tribute to Prof Jadesola Akande. Was at the Magistrate Court – Sabo for a case. Case couldn’t go on – prosecution not ready.

TUE. 6TH MAY
At the Ikeja High Court. Had a criminal matter. Case couldn’t go on. Prosecution not ready.

WED. 7TH MAY
Was at the Magistrate Court Sabo. For a matter at court I. Criminal matter. Matter couldn’t go on. Prosecution not ready.

THUR. 8TH MAY
Was at the Ikeja High Court today. In the late afternoon, got down to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus. For the wake-keeping of late Professor Jadesola Akande, former vice-chancellor of the Lagos State University (1988 – 1993).

Quite a crowd - about 1500, present. Two former Governors of Lagos State, Major General Mobolaji Johnson and Mr. Bola Tinubu, Asiwaju of Lagos, were among the dignitaries there. Saw Mrs. Jacinta Olusoga, the University Registrar when Akande ruled as Vice-chancellor. In her time those days, Olusoga was a near raving beauty. At the tail end of the ceremony, the Forum of Past and Present Leaders and Activists of the Lagos State University Students Union raised some patriotic songs. Trust me to be amongst.

FRI. 9TH MAY
Was at the church of the Assumption Falomo Ikoyi Lagos for the funeral service of late professor Jadesola Akande. A well organized and well attended service it was.

Noticed that students of LASU and their Union participated “loudly” in the burial. But I didn’t see any sign of women groups in active participation, save perhaps Zontas International.

LAST WEEK APRIL/1ST WEEK MAY 08

SQUIB DIARY

MON. 28TH APRIL, 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court today. The Squib’s out. Cover story - 'Lucky 7. Lagos Judiciary recalls suspended workers.' Court compound, full. A typical Monday morning.

TUE. 29TH APRIL, 2008
Was in chambers in the morning. Had a titanic case at the High Court in the afternoon.
In the evening, heard strange news - Professor Jadesola Akande, former Lagos State University Vice-Chancellor was dead? Can’t be true.

WED. 30TH APRIL, 2008
Confirmed. Sad news of Mama Akande’s (Professor Jadesola Akande) death confirmed. What a shocking exit! What could have killed the amazon, just like that? Heard that she just slept and didn’t wake up again.
Was at the Sabo Magistrate Court, for a case. Prosecutor absent. Left for Ikeja High Court for an afternoon matter.

THUR. 1ST MAY, 2008
May Day Holiday. With Adekunle Ojo former NBA Ikeja Chairman and Lanre Ajanaku Esq., paid a condolence visit to the family of late Professor Jadesola Akande at her Raymond Njoku street, Ikoyi, Lagos residence.

FRI. 2ND MAY, 2008
Today again was at the house of Mama Akande. Saw a few dignitaries in the house. Saw a very dear old aunty of mine, who took it upon herself to introduce me to several judges.
The way ‘Aunty Jegs’ went about it, some innocents started eyeing me with a special respect. I, a mere 'gecko.'