Taofeeq Olateju attended the University of Ilorin, Kwara State from 2006 – 2011 for his LL.B; he thereafter proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was called to Bar in 2013. He had his NYSC programme with Afe Babalola & Co., Abuja. He also had his legal attachment with the law firm of Yusuf O. Ali & Co. in Ilorin in 2012 and he is currently practising in the chamber. He shares with our JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENT, KAYODE ADEOTI, the experience of the day he can never forget in the legal practice. Excerpts: The day I can never forget since I commenced the practice of law is still fresh in my memory. It all happened in Ilorin judicial Division here.
On this fateful day in court, there were three accused persons standing trial for criminal offence. One of the them came late to court, there was a kind of communication gap between him and his lawyer. In a way to protect him when the court asked of him from his lawyer, he said he was sick and that he’s presently on admission
The judge we were appearing before was very magnanimous and he always understand things, my colleague shouldn’t have lied that the accused person was on hospital bed when he was not. If my colleague had taken time to inform the court that he had not been able to communicate with his client over his whereabouts, he wouldn’t have finished that submission before he will walk in. He chose to mislead the court.
When the court confronted the accused of where he was coming from, he said, ‘My Lord, I’m coming from Oke Odo, Tanke. The judge further asked of what denied the accused in his response, the client said, his mother was sick and he had to rush him to the hospital before coming to court. The reason behind his lateness which the accused told the court of was very different from counsel’s submission.
I was highly baffled with the action of my colleague and it was an experience I cannot forget.
