Taofeeq Olateju attended the University of Ilorin, Kwara State from 2006 to 2011, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was called to Bar in 2013. He had his NYSC programme in 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 his legal practice. Excerpts:
The day I can never forget since I commenced the law practice is still fresh in my memory. It all happened at Ilorin judicial Division.
On this fateful day in court, there were three accused persons standing trial for criminal offence. One of them came late to court, there was a kind of communication gap between him and his lawyer. In a way to protect defendant when the court asked of him from his lawyer, he claimed his client was sick and presently on admission.
The judge will appear before was very magnanimous and very understanding, 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 his client over his whereabouts, he wouldn’t have finished that submission before he would 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 where he was coming from, in his response, the client said, his mother was sick and he had to rush her to the hospital before coming to court. The reason behind his lateness which mu colleague told the court of was very different from the accused person’s submission.
