TODAY IN COURT IN LAGOS Today was the date set for the hearing in my fundamental rights enforcement case before the Honourable Justice Tsoho. My lawyers were there on time. (God bless Professor Itsey Sagay). The courtroom was warm and friendly. I met one of my classmates in Benin and it was a reunion of sorts. However, the case could not go forward because there was a message from the court to all lawyers that all contentious cases would have to be adjourned. As the courts would be going into their annual vacation in mid-July, the next scheduled date would be in September. That means that all the cases I was was involved in this week, in my personal capacity as a party, have suffered one postponement or the other. For people in America and Europe, this would be an outrage. But this is Nigeria. Our legal system here is still akin to what obtained nearly hundred years ago in America or Europe. It is a colossal waste for lawyers to prepare for trial and get to court and sit there for hours and then hear that the court would not sit. While such condition is a tragedy for the country, I am not worried by it in my cases. My friends and colleagues in America are watching. It would be easy to prove that the Nigerian judicial system is dysfunctional if it ever comes to that. So, please celebrate with me. The longer these cases take to be resolved, the more clear it is to the world that I have been a victim of high-handed executive recklessness and blind persecution. One mishap, though. My favourite keke-n-pepe driver that was to take me to court today could not make it. His vehicle had a problem. I was then forced to go to court in my regular car. So, I did not arrive to court in style as I had planned to. But never the less, the effort was made. Next time would be different.
Posted on: Wed, 11 Jun 2014 09:37:54 +0000
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