VOL. 10 NO. 5

READERS’ PAVILION

ATTACHED GOODS
The Editor,
I called to express my enjoyment of the Squib. I have with me here, last week’s edition on the badly dressed lawyer and this week’s which focused on use of attached furniture in the Chief Judge’s office
Talking about the attached furniture, I think it is just a big shame. May be the Chief Judge is not even aware of the situation. May be somebody who has been given the contract to supply the chairs and tables has “eaten” the money and now arranged for the attached goods to be used in the offices.
I think your story on the dirty lawyer is absolutely necessary. The way some of our colleagues dress nowadays, youngsters would certainly run away from joining the legal profession since their dressing portray us as wretched people. And who wants to be a wretch?
Editor’s Note: Certainly not me!

ATTACHED GOODS
The Editor,
Is this the way to treat a new wife? I refer to your cover story this week (use of attached furniture in the chief judge’s office). But let me ask you, how did you manage to get those pictures of those seats?
Well let me warn you that henceforth you have got to be very careful. The new Chief Judge is a terrible and vindictive person. Please watch your back. But talking seriously, it is through efforts like the Squib that we can get the broom to the floor to give it a clean sweep.
Editor’s Note: You said the new chief judge is my “wife”. If that’s true how come you are warning the husband against the wife? In fact I will tell, when I get home.

ATTACHED GOODS
The Editor,
I wish to categorically state that your report listing our court (Justice Sola Williams) as one of the courts where attached furniture is used is not correct.
There is no such item in our court. I challenge you to point out a single item in this court room that is from the bailiffs section. You are free to look around.
Even when the seats for registrars and the seats in the dock and the witness box were bad, it was our judge who made new ones in replacement. We don’t use attached goods here.
Editor’s Note: Although we appreciate and respect your feelings but we stand by our story. Until our publication, there was at least one chair with markings from the sheriffs in your court. It is no longer there now.

ATTACHED GOODS
The Editor,
You are very right that the judiciary is using attached furniture in her offices. For example if you go to the Commissioner of Oaths Office in the Lagos High Court, the refrigerator there is an attached good. Likewise a standing fan in Mr. Farawe’s office, in the same department.
Editor’s Note:- Wonderful!

LAGOS JUDICIARY
The Editor,
I can tell you that the Lagos State judiciary has done far worse than converting or appropriating sets of furniture-belonging to litigants.
I have a case in my chambers where for about ten years now, the Lagos State Judiciary has sat on the money of our client, the judgement creditor in a decided case.
In fact after a time, we had to pay the client the money due to him from our chamber’s account, to save the face of the judiciary. I mean how can it be heard in public that money paid into the court for a litigant cannot get to him?
And let me say this, I do not like the excuses you made for the judiciary staff using attached goods. Is it any reason to say that they do that because their employers do not provide for them in their offices?
It is like the argument of the police that it is because they are poorly paid that they take to extorting money from people on the streets.
So if these judiciary staff don’t have chairs and tables in their offices, why couldn’t they be as they are-standing up, so that everybody would know that their employer has not provided for them?
Editor’s Note: Point.

JUSTICE ADEBAJO
The Editor,
If you ask the average lawyer who practices in Badagry their opinion about the presiding judge of the Badagry High Court, Adebajo J. they would certainly talk very poorly about him. Lawyers and litigants are very bitter about this judge and quite a deluge of petitions are lodged against him to the immediate past chief judge of the state-: Adetula Alabi but to no avail.
For the past five years, that Adebajo J has come to Badagry High Court, it has been a tale of woes-certainly his period is a far cry from that of Justice Habeeb Abiru.
Please extend your focus to Badagry. Come and see and hear things for yourself. This judge has so badly conducted himself and in so brazen a manner that some senior lawyers have had occasions to lambast him during court sessions. Lawyers like Tunji Orisalade, Taiwo Kupolati have had open quarrels with him in court.
We invite you to come over to Badagry.
Editor’s Note: We will be there.