Depressed when Senior colleague threatened cost against me as rookie
Fabiyi Felix Adediji had his Higher Secondary School Certificate from the then Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin, in 1983, (now Kwara State Polytechnic). He proceeded to the University of Jos, Plateau State for his LL.B and graduated in 1986. Afterwards, he went to the Nigerian Law School and was called to Bar in1987. He was posted to the Ministry of Justice, Lagos State, for his NYSC programme. However, he began active practice of law with a brief stint at Afolabi Amos Chambers between 1989 and 1990. Subsequently, he joined Dr. Oluwole Aje in 1990. Adediji in 1990 afterwards set up his law firm, Adediji Fabiyi & Co in 1990. He shares with our JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENT, KAYODE ADEOTI his most overwhelming day in court as a legal practitioner.
The moment I could refer to as most overwhelming in the course of performing my duties as a lawyer was when I appeared against a senior colleague, Abeni Muhammed now Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in court. It was an unforgettable experience because I was a young wig then.
That day, I was about moving a motion when my boss said I should rather pray for an adjournment. While I was following my principal’s instructions, the SAN said he will take cost against me, I became so sad and troubled. The senior lawyer went on canvassing his argument, insisting that court must award cost against me.
After a while, the judge looked at me pitifully and said ‘lawyer Abeni, you’ve already taken the cost against him, look at the counsel, he sad. After he had said this, we just all laughed over it.
But till I got to the office, I was still very depressed, my principal who later came to console me then asked, ‘how many case will you be sad about? Since then, I’ve learnt to take my cases with ease.
