LAST WEEK OCTOBER/FIRST WEEK NOVEMBER 2007

SQUIB DIARY

 Monday 29^th October 2007

The Squib is out. Cover story  –  “Shame! High Court Judge Fights Judicial Assistant.” Promises to be a best-seller.

Was at the Lagos State Court Igbosere for an election petition matter. Later came to the Ikeja High Court. Saw Squib selling like hot ‘akara.’  

Tuesday 30^th October 2007

Was at the Lagos High Court Igbosere. For a case. Did it and left. Must say that the toilets on the corridor to the Court of Appeal, are still in fine condition. Well maintained. The ladies in charge should be commended. Moving motions in that place is no pain at all. Pleasurable really. Got to Ikeja High Court, to do some checks.

Wednesday 31^st October 2007

Was briefly at the Ikeja High Court. However was around enough to see some “Task Force Men” filiming the various shops and stalls in compound  ‘B’ of the Ikeja High Court, which truth to tell had become swamped with  business centres, food canteens, liquor sellers etc.  Thursday 1^st November 2007 Was at the Ikeja High Court. In the afternoon, saw bands of armed task force men, overturning various kiosks and stalls in compound ‘B’ of the Ikeja High Court.The owners and operators of these make-shift constructions could only looked on helplessly.  Heard feeble protestations from the owners that they were no squatters. That they were put in their positions by certain government authorities after paying certain fees.Noticed that the High Court was ‘dry’. Only few lawyers around. The Lagos State High Courts have turned into a ghost town. Hundreds, if not thousands of non-part heard cases still remain un-assigned to judges. How tragic! Even for freshly filed cases, it’s taking weeks before the RECORDS SECTION takes them to the Administrative Judge to assign them to various judges, even fundamental right actions. Tragically wonderful. Yet the NBA seems unperturbed. Alas! 

 Friday 2^nd November 2007

Was at the Ikeja High Court. Saw that the vendors and kiosk owners temporarily displaced yesterday by KAI Task Force man had  bounced back. Very much back in their different places, they were. Was informed of the plight of a barrister, Adebowale Adesina locked up by the police at Pedro Police Station. The lawyer’s offence? Police claimed he was obstructing the execution of a court order. Got there with two other Tigers, Dare Akande {leader} and Biyi. Met lawyer Adesina already released. Seems an interesting matter, though.                         

3rd Week in October 2007

SQUIB DIARY
Monday 15^th October 2007        Squib’s out.
Cover story “What’s the worth of a Doctor’s Life, a revisit of the C.O.P. Vs Ibinabo Fiberesima case. Was at the Lagos High Court, specifically Justice Adebisi Kayode-Ogunmekan’s Court. Nice ambience, in the court. Furniture, floor tiles, lighting; air-conditioning, now very okay. Pray they last. Tuesday 16^th October 2007        Was not in court today.  Went to the Maximum Security Prison, Kirikiri. As a visitor, of course.  Silly. Saw my Dad, today. Daddy 3, I mean. The old guy still pushing himself so hard, even at 76. Old school, hard-as-flint folks always like that. Can you imagine Daddy 3 still burning midnight candles preparing cases? Since he cannot change by himself, I pray, here and now – “Oh God, help touch my Daddy, so that he can slow down. Thank you God for answered prayers.” Wednesday 17^th October 2007        Was at the Ikeja High Court. Saw groups of law students from the Lagos State University {LASU} in some courts. They came to watch proceedings. Learnt from their leaders that the visit was strictly a students’ initiative. Commendable I say.Noticed a ‘Pool of Siloam’ on the corridor of Justice Obadina’s court. The source of the pool is a leak from one of the pipes taking condensed  water away from the air conditioning engines in the court room. Messy, quite messy a pool, growing green moss. Somebody may slip there, one of these days.Geckos report an incident between a lawyer and his driver at the Court of Appeal. The lawyer’s case was struck out by the court because of his absence. Yet, the lawyer was very much about in the court premises but could not appear in the court room. Reason – his driver bringing his wig and gown did not arrive the court in time. Claimed traffic jam, lawyer was not appeased. Driver got the sack.  Instanta. The lawyer?  Ladi Williams S.A.N. Thursday 18^th October 2007        Was at the Ikeja High Court. Rather dull in the courts today. Only few lawyers about. The courts are dry these days since the new legal year. Reason is obvious. The High Courts and Magistrate Courts have not been sitting full force. Many courts still undergoing renovation. But not Patricia Etteh style. Friday 19^th October 2007        Wonders shall never end. Heard that at the Lagos High Court, only one judge Toyin Taiwo J. sat today. Heard that many of the others took the day off to be with Honourable Justice Oke-Lawal who was marking her birthday. Incredible? This can’t be true. Ha!              

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