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.