MOST DRAMATIC: Day I was overruled at the Federal High Court – Isau
Barrister AbdulHakeem Femi Isau is an Ilorin born and based legal practitioner ,He graduated from the University of Ilorin before proceeding to Nigerian law school in 2011 and was called to Bar in 2012.
He had a stint practicing with his father, Saka Abimbola Isau SAN but he is currently practicing with Yusuf Ali & Co at Unity area of Ilorin.
In this interview with JIMOH SULYMAN, the young Isau shares his most memorable moment in the Court of Law. Excerpt.
I made my first appearance in court along with my Dad who was the leading counsel but my most memorable moment in Court has to be my first individual appearance in court, which was at the Federal High Court in Ilorin before Honourable Justice Faji.
I have heard numerous experiences in Court ,being tagged along with a senior colleague but as expected, one will always have this feeling of nervousness because I must say it was an easy on but my prior experience came in handy for me.
I was guided by my senior colleagues in the firm on how to go about it, it was the case between Professor Ijaodola vs University of Ilorin which was concerning the appointment of the VC as at then which he disagreed with.
He challenged the case in Court ,when I was given the case file, it was commenced with an originating summon placed by the plaintiff counsel, which I did a counter affidavit to and I also filed a preliminary objection but to my surprise, I was over ruled and that new to me ,hence I was startled by that.
But after everything, we were victorious, after Ijaodola counsels couldn’t convince the court beyond reasonable, hence, the judge ruled that the procedure used by the University to appoint the Vice chancellor is legal.
The Professor fought the case again both at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court where he got the same outcome as the High Court, I felt really to have recorded my first victory at the Court and more so, doing it in such a high profile case.
But from that moment, I was awakened to the realities of standing all by yourself before the court and ever since, I have been able to comport myself better.
