Gani's Shoes

A colleague said to me yesterday with some excitement ' Mr Chairman, People are already asking when you will step into Gani Fawehinmi shoes' .The statement did not amuse me. For a number of reasons . First, those expectants are ,in my respectful view , lazy and selfish. They want really a mythical super hero to come and do the difficult , dangerous and dirty work of cleaning the Augean stable while they only sit back as spectators , clap and cheer or mourn the Samson at all appropriate stages . National liberation or community rescue as I see it is easier , better and more sustainable by one million ants than a lone Behemoth. Second , I am not persuaded by the FAWEHINMIAN forte of legalist or and constitutionalist ACTIVISM as an effective tool of social engagement in this semi- jungle of a nation called Nigeria. Gani was court crazy , perhaps for a well meaning Nigerian of his era and times ,that was okay . I for one is an ALUTARIAN , the location of struggles must be first either on the streets , later in the Bush or vice versa or and both, but always on THE PRESS while the source of the energy is the PEOPLE .THus the ALUTARIAN must connect with the masses , gain their trust and confidence , care very little for ELITE and ELITIST approval and standards .Thus for me, unlike Gani, the trusted platform , the sword and the shield is SOCIOLOGICAL not legal/ judicial. .....AND NOW BY THE WAY, Dear Lagosians , I urge once again , don't pay any charges, levies, taxes, fees, brought under the LAND USE CHARGE LAW 2018 of Gov Akinwunmi AMBODE . That law is extremely anti people , extortionate , oppressive , illegal and unconstitutional . This is the directive of the NBA IKEJA BRANCH , report any harassment of you on this obnoxious and satanic law to the Tiger Bar for your free of charge defence . We have the men and materials for your aid . Thank you. ADESINA OGUNLANA , CHAIRMAN NBA IKEJA BRANCH.

CCN

I was entertained a few hours ago by the clown at Aso Rock ....Femi Adesina CCN ( chief clown of Nigeria) I read the clowns distinction between ALL and A LOT . According to Femi , ALL means an ELEPHANT while A LOT means a RABBIT .He disagreed strongly with those who said A LOT should rather be a HIPPO or at least a RHINO in the circumstances of the AJANAKU . Gentlemen, this Femi Adesina is a graduate of English Studies from Great Ife o not just O A U o. Some of his course of Studies then were SEMANTICS , STYLISTICS and SYSTEMIC TEXT LINGUISTICS . I knew all these facts because we were there together then......long ago before the Father of a lot of Nigerians youths who are lazy and waiting for Oyel money employed him .

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Land Use Charge Law 2018

STILL ON THE LAND USE CHARGE LAW 2018 : May I. Use this opportunity to once again inform all convened Lagosians of the DiRECTIVE of the NBA IKEJA BRANCH NOT TO PAY ANY LEVY , TAX, CHARGE, FEE etc brought under that illegal, unconstitutional, insensitive , and extremely OPPRESSIVE LAW . Don't let any one cajole or threaten you . THE TIGER BAR HAS 3000 LAWYERS LINED UP FOR FREE OF CHARGE DEFENCE . Report all and any harassment on this law to NBA IKEJA BRANCH .Our secretariat is at the IKEJA HIGH COURT . PHONE CONTACT 08034854066 , 08033035801 I am Adesina Ogunlana CHAIRMAN ANNOUNCER . 

NB THIS IS 3rd stage of our 7 steps ANTI GATT strategy.

5TH - 9TH NOVEMBER 2012

THE SQUIB DIARY
MONDAY 5^TH NOVEMBER 2012

Lagos State High Court Settlement Week begins. No court session all week long. Isn’t that interesting? But what will the judges be doing? Oh, don’t worry about that; they are off to a foreign land (some say Gabon, some say Canada) for “further education.” I hear you.

One Lagos State Judge did not go for the “educational trip” for he needed it not again. After all he’s just been elevated to the Court of Appeal and sworn in today as a judge. His name? Habeeb Olawale Abiru J.C.A. The Supreme Court just round the corner .

Tigers monthly meeting today. Lively and interesting as usual. A member who advertised drugs to prevent prostate enlargement and enhance sexual libido in men was asked whether her confident sale pitch was from point of experience.

TUESDAY 6TH NOVEMBER 2012

The high courts are shut. No judge around. Went to the Tigers lair in the noon. Spent useful time playing the arbitrator. No fees, sha O. Received a gift from Tiger Chief who just returned from the U.S. The gift? Just “Agege Bread.” Later went to chambers. To do chambers work.

WEDNESDAY 7^TH NOVEMBER 2012

High court, Lagos State, still shut down. The judges, abroad. “Settlement Week” in progress. The court rooms turned to “Settlement Rooms.” A graduate of the Nigerian Law School is said to be a “Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.” He is no way described as Mediator and Arbitrator of the Supreme Court. Something is seriously missing. There is a lot to question about the imposed nature of the MEDIATION PRACTICE in the Lagos state Judiciary.

In the afternoon, went to Ogun State. Over a land issue between a client and “omo onile.”

THURSDAY 8^TH NOVEMBER 2012

Landed in the Tigers’ Lair quite early in the morning. Did much of gecko labour and a few Bar matters till late in the afternoon. The Squib professor of law brought to the lair his new car. Joined in a drive-about celebration.  

FRIDAY 9^TH NOVEMBER 2012

Squib production in full throttle.

15TH - 19TH OCTOBER 2012

Squib Diary

MONDAY 15^TH OCTOBER 2012

Was at the Igbosere Magistrate Court. For a matter. Did not go on. Absent prosecutor, the cause. Had to sail back to the mainland to settle down at ‘The Lair’ Ikeja High Court.

 

TUESDAY 16^TH OCTOBER 2012

At ‘The Lair’ today, after some hours in chambers.

 WEDNESDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2012

Was at the High Court Ikeja. For a case before Oyewole J. (variously being speculated about as the next Chief Judge of Osun State, come November 2012). Matter could not proceed. Milord, absent. Very unusual of him. Later went to Ibadan with some other Tigers to attend the Layi Babatunde SAN Inter-Faculties of Law Annual quiz competition and lecture at the Faculty of Law of the Premier University.

Guest lecturer was Dayo Akinlaja SAN the Attorney general and Commissioner for Justice, Ekiti State. The quiz was fun despite a fumbling quiz master. The winner of the quiz was, your guess is as good as mine: LASU (greatest of the greatest)!

 

THURSDAY 18^TH OCTOBER 2012

Was in chambers, all morning till noon. As Acting 'Chair,' presided over Tiger Bar ‘Exco’ meeting. Smooth, snappy affair. Some officers barely met the closing prayer.

 FRIDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2012

Early morning downpour. Yet had to go down to the island for two cases. One in the Magistrate Court. The other, High Court.

Criminal trial at the High Court went on. That of the magistrate court, stalled. Magistrate came very late. Reportedly went to sit for a promotional exam at Ikeja in the morning.

Ademola Adewale, Squib’s Professor of Law, the second longest running columnist of the Squib, held an open house at the Tiger Bar Centre; to mark his 26^th years of the call to the Bar. Prof was called to the Bar on 18^th October nineteen gbogboro yeepa!

The open house, geckos said was simple but sweet. Long live the Prof!

27TH FEBRUARY - 2ND MARCH 2012

SQUIB DIARY

MONDAY 27TH FEB.

Had two matters on the Island. One at the Magistrate Court, Igbosere, the other at the High Court (TBS). Neither went on. And, to think of the “kirakita” to make the courts in good time. The High Court in question has now become very notorious for lateness and absenteeism .

TUESDAY 28^TH FEB.

Was at the Federal High Court for a ruling. Ruling reserved till 1.00pm, later 1.30, later 2.00pm, later 2.30pm. finally delivered at 3.04pm.

Earlier in the day, witnessed the formal opening of the corporate headquarters of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender (OPD) at Ojuelegba Lagos.

WEDNESDAY 29^TH FEB.

Came to the Court of Appeal Lagos, Panel 2. Saw an “action lady” in charge of the place. The court is no longer a “sleeping theatre of justice.”

THURSDAY 1^ST MARCH

Again at the Court of Appeal. Heard about a laughable scene of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who wanted to eat his cake and have it. He was in Panel 1 and wanted to take a judgement in Panel 2. And yet wanted Panel 1 to recognize his presence in his absence via the proxy of his junior colleague in chambers.

What a wonderful extension of privilege. Bros, I doff my hat! Noticed that the cooling system in Court 2 works epileptically. This does no help to the nerves of the lawyers already under strain from the mock hectoring of the presiding judge.

When it was time to leave, got a shocker! One of the front tyres of my car had been taken out and off. The assailant left a note: “your tyre has been taken away because of your careless parking. Come to the Cricket office to collect it.”

To make the matter more interesting, the permanent “police patrol” there, just three or four paces away, claimed they did not know when the removal happened! Wonderful indeed.

FRIDAY 2^ND MARCH

Was at the Ikeja High Court. For a judgement. Judgement not delivered. Went to the Tiger Bar Secretariat. The new and permanent one started in 2005 by the Adekunle Ojo administration. Just about three weeks ago, the Tigers moved out of their Temporary Lair at the Ikeja High Court, to make way for the emergency Open Registry of the Ikorodu High Court.

Despite the newly erected perimeter fence of the Secretariat, wafts of weed (marijuana) smoke floated into the Secretariat. Just imagine. ‘Wee-wee’ practice behind a Bar Centre and in the premises of the courts! Just imagine.

MEETING GOVERNOR FASHOLA - WITH LETTER OF PROTEST

On 20th January 2012, NBA Ikeja branch members were received by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola S.A.N and the Lagos State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye.



The branch chairman, Adebamigbe Omole on behalf of the branch first commiserated with Governor Fashola on the recent loss of his uncle and then stated its concerns: embarrassing developments in Lagos State - specifically the presence of soldiers on its streets which was a breach of the fundamental rights of the people and which was uncalled for, there being no state of emergency to warrant their (soldiers) presence and so something had to be done.


Branch Chairman Omole, a senior branch member - Mr. Femi Falana and the branch’s General Secretary, Adesina Ogunlana then presented the Letter of Protest to Governor Fashola. Thanking the Bar for coming, the Governor stated that he had written to the President on the matter. He said politicians must learn to tolerate criticism of their policies and that the story about the soldiers being members of Operation MESA (a team created and funded by the Lagos State Government) was untrue. “Operation MESA does not occupy streets and they go about their duties in their branded vehicles, “ he stated. Governor Fashola added that Lagos state was doing something about the situation and people should remain calm and peaceful that the people of Lagos had fought and won many battles and this would be no different.