Luqman Olarewaju Bello first obtained two diploma certificates in law at the School of Legal Studies, Ilorin, Kwara state and Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), Zaria. Afterwards, he secured admission to study Law at the University of Ilorin in 2007 and graduated in 2011. Subsequently, he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012. He was posted to Sokoto for his NYSC programme and later redeployed to Osogbo, the Osun State capital where and he eventually served in Ayodele & Co. He returned to Ilorin after the completion of his NYSC and currently a Managing Partner of Alajo & Associates. Bello shares with our JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENT, KAYODE ADEOTI, his most theatrical moment in court. Excerpts:
I’d had many moments in court I can easily refers to as most dramatic but the one that comes to my mind often times is the day I was handling a matter for my elder sister. It was a case based on Criminal complaint and I filed it against the accused person.
In one of our encounters with the accused person, he informed me that he will not come to court on the adjourned date; so, I went to court to secure a bench warrant against him and the court bailiff was ordered to serve the process on him. But I was surprised and baffled when the court orderly called me that he had met the accused person, served him the bench warrant and also collected the money which was the bone of contention from him. The orderly further informed me that he had spent the money as well as asking the accused to go.
I was furious so I informed the magistrate of what the bailiff had done. Also, when I was making my submission, I told the court of this development but to my surprise, the magistrate said he doesn’t want to cause any problem for the bailiff that he won’t record my submission. When I contended against his order, the magistrate got annoyed and said I was raising my voice against him.
