Vol 8 No 18 25th Feb 2008

READERS’ PAVILION

KESSINGTON J
The Editor,
I read your story on the Late Justice Abiodun Kessington and his eccentric ways and keen sense of Justice. Well, here in Ibadan, Oyo State, we have a judge like that, Adeniran J. Occasionally, he took speaks Yoruba in his court. There was a time the judge came late to court. Just as he wanted to start proceedings, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria present stood up and started berating the judge for not apologising to the bar for late coming.
Guess what Adeniran J did? He said the following words:
“Iyun, ni kootu mi na o?
Registrar, fun gbogbgo won ni date.
Ma fun okunrin yen sa o.
Akpo ….. ki lo pe ra e”

(“Isn’t it wonderful to have myself so tongue-lashed in my very court? Mr. Registrar, adjourn all cases. Give them new dates, but don’t give that man (the Senior advocate) any date. Akpo …….. whatever he calls himself”)

On another occasion, a land dispute came up before Adeniran J. The actual owner was an illiterate old man. The land in dispute lay in challenge and the plaintiff who gave only ten thousand naira to the old man during transaction for the sale of the land as transportation money now claimed it was the purchase price of the land. To make matters worse, the old man’s lawyer, apparently in collusion with the adverse party advised his client to claim in court that he collected money from the plaintiff as purchase price. But the old man had keen native intelligence. He consulted another lawyer on the matter and he was advised not to accept collecting any purchase price for his land. At trial, the old man’s lawyer put the question to him:-
Lawyer: “Baba, did you collect any money on your land from the plaintiff.
Client: I didn’t but may be you collected.
The lawyer repeated the question some more times but the old man stood his ground. Adeniran J. immediately realised that something fishy was on. He gave judgment to the old man and said “- Ha ha, ten thousand fun ile ni Shallenji!
Ki se n’Ibadan n’bi.
Boya l’abule yin;
Baba, eni ba wa sori ile yin,
E no won”

(“Incredible-for land at Challenge in Ibadan to go for a mere ten thousand naira? Not in Ibadan, may be in your (defendant’s) village. Baba if any body trespasses on your land, beat them up”!)
Editor’s Note: - To every jurisdiction, at least one Kessington J?

SQUIB
The Editor,
If you err, who will Squib the Squib?
Editor’s Note: - The Squib, of course.

SQUIB
The Editor,
You look great in this your Tiv attire, it is Squibable. I must see it in the Squib.
Editor’s Note: - As your Readership pleases!

JUSUN
The Editor,
I want to thank you for your comments on the Television over the last JUSUN strike. Thank you for defending so strongly the cause of Judiciary workers.
Editor’s Note: - Our pleasure.

Vol 8 No 17 18th February 2008

THE READERS’ PAVILION

KESSINGTON J.
The Editor,
I was shocked to learn of the passing away of the late Justice Kessington in a story in the recent issue of your publication (The Squib). You gave the story a very good treatment for which I write to congratulate and thank you. We all have our human foibles and idiosyncrasies which makes us the individuals that we are. “Kessy” was a hero of the Lagos Judiciary. May His Soul find everlasting favour with its Maker.

Editor’s Note: - Amen.

SQUIB
The Editor,
I won’t blame you too much any judge who is after you. You can be something of handful in your write-ups, especially the merciless and irreverent way you poke fun at those in authority. For example, I just kept laughing when I read your story about the judge (Ojikutu - Oshode J.) who beat up her judicial assistant.

Editor’s Note: - Please keep reading, we’ll keep squibbing.


MASTER FORGER
The Editor,
Have you heard of the case of a lawyer who forged Justice Oshodi’s judgment?

Editor’s Note: - Sure, working on it.

KESSINGTON J.
The Editor,
I was very sorry to learn of the passing on of the great Kess. Any news of the funeral or how I can reach the family. Kess was particularly fond of me. He used to call me “Agbako.” A very lively man indeed.
Olisa Agbakoba S.A.N
Editor’s Note: - Quite!

Vol 8 No 16 4th February 2008

READERS’ PAVILION

THE SECRET IMPEDIMENT
The Editor,
When I read your Learned Squib article. “The Secret Impediment, I looked round the Bar Centre grounds for any sight of the “rubber” you complained about, but I did not see any. However with you now as my guide, I can see quite a lot and your article now makes sense to me. I agree the Bar Centre {Secretariat of NBA Ikeja} needs urgent cleansing.
Editor’s Note: - Quite!

THE SECRET IMPEDIMENT
The Editor,
We should not blame those who come in the evenings to make love at the Bar Centre. They obviously want to have babies who will grow up to be lawyers.
Editor’s Note: - Really?

SQUIB
The Editor,
This your edition on the Lagos State Police Commissioner is best sold at Police Stations and not in the court premises.
Editor’s Note: - Good idea!

SQUIB
The Editor,
But for the Case-Law Section, I wouldn’t have bought the Squib this week. I have no interest in reading the views of the man on your cover - the Police Commissioner.
Editor’s Note: - I see!

SQUIB
The Editor,
I want to express my heart-felt gratitude to you for your magazine’s immense contribution to the maintenance of sanity in the judiciary. The Squib is a big check on the abuse and misuse of powers in the profession.
Even your very presence makes people control themselves. When you enter the court, you may not know it, but the atmosphere changes. Also, the other day, you came in to see the DPP; I was there too with a few colleagues. You joined us in waiting but some other people were allowed immediate access to the D.P.P.

After a long while, you got fed up of the situation and walked off in annoyance. Immediately, the lady attending to us rushed in to see the DPP with the alarming news that the SQUIB man was here and had left in annoyance. The DPP asked the lady to quickly bring you back. May God continue to energise you.
Editor’s Note: - And everyone else