Embarrassed day judge turned down my motion over principal’s absence
Lanre Yahya graduated from Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto in 2007 and was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008. Afterwards, he had a brief stint with Ahmed Saka & Co. before he moved to the Jawondo & Co. Chamber. In 2012 he joined YDU Ambali. The lawyer, however, established his own firm; Aremu Yahya & Associates in 2016. He shares with our Judiciary Reporter, KAYODE ADEOTI, his most dramatic moment in court as a legal practitioner. Excerpts:
My first appearance in court can never be forgotten in a hurry. The experience was quite dramatic but not very pleasant.
On that fateful day, I appeared at the Kwara State High Court for the first time since called to Bar, and it was during my pupilage programme.
This is how it happened: My principal asked me to handle a matter on his behalf in court. He gave me the file without any instruction. Meanwhile, he had written a letter to the Chief Judge for the withdrawal of the matter from the judge I’m to appear before. However, I was not aware of all these. So, when the matter was called, I stood up to move a particular motion which was in the file, but I noticed that the judge summoned the court registrar to ask if I was the one that signed the withdrawal letter. The registrar shook his head implying that I was not the one who wrote the application.
To my dismay, shortly after their conversation, the judge flared up, asking for the where about of my principal. He said my principal tactically did not appear before him because of the petition he had written earlier.
My plea to the judge for him to allow me to move motion, which was the business of the day, fell on deaf ears, despite explanation that I was unaware of the development.
The judge who was visibly angry, turned down my request and insisted that without the appearance of my principal in the court, the case will not go on.
I felt so embarrassed simply because I was not aware of what transpired before then.
