Day I used seniority to disarm, embarrass colleague
Omotosho Gobir had his LL.B from the Uthman Danfodio University in 1995 and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1996. For his NYSC, he was deployed to a private Chambers in Calabar, Cross-Rivers State. After the completion of the scheme, he joined Kayode Elesin-Nla law firm, located in Ilorin, Kwara State in 1997 and left 2001 to established his own chamber, Gobir Imam & Co. that same year in the state capital. He however shares his unforgettable moment in the practice with our Judiciary Correspondent, KAYODE ADEOTI. Excepts:
There was this case I handled sometimes ago in which junior counsel almost embarrassed me but God vindicated me. The matter came up at Orilegbon, High Court, Surulere Local Government, Oyo State.
On that fateful day in court, cases were called according to seniority. But because I was appearing in that court for the first time, I did not know most of the lawyers who were in court. I was looking at their faces to judge who have been called before me. But after I’ve allowed those ones I perceived old enough to senior me call their cases, I stood up to call mine, but a lawyer challenged me saying he is the most senior in the court. Then, I said, I came from Ilorin, that I didn’t know when he was called to bar and that I’m not a junior lawyer, then we started dragging it.
Eventually, the judge asked him when he was called to bar, he said, March 2001. When I was asked too, I said April, 1996. Everybody in the court including the litigants all laughed, he felt so embarrassed and that was how God vindicated me.
