From the CourtPilot Law

When magistrate abused me for stuttering, disgraceful performance in court

Abdullahi Zakariyau Jimba had his first degree in Sociology from the University of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital in 2005. Subsequently, he went for second degree in Law in the same institution and graduated in 2015. Afterwards, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was called to Bar in 2016. In this interview with ACTING EDITOR, MUMINI ABDULKAREEM, the Principal Partner of Armstrong Attorney, Ilorin, Kwara State capital shares one of his memorable experiences in court. Excerpts:
The day I will continue to remember in my practice was when I appeared in court just three days after I was called to Bar. I was called on a Friday and appeared in court the following Monday just to watch and listen to court proceedings. Where I sat, a senior lawyer called me and asked me to hold his brief as he was busy attending to another case somewhere. The case was before magistrate Ibrahim Mohammed. So I was confronted with an interpleader application. There was a judgment of the court and there was a property that was confisticated in the course of executing the judgment. Now another person came out that the property in question does not belong to judgment debtor which was a vehicle and so we approached the court that judgment debtor was not the real owner of the property that was seized from him. And we have to bring an application. For a young man that was coming out of law school, I didn’t find it easy because law school will not teach you the procedural aspect of law, it is you that will know how to approach such cases which has to do with experience. I was a young wig then in court and I lost my composure. I could not compose myself because I was not prepared for the case. In an attempt to make my submission, I was stuttering with the phrase ‘I think, I thin, I think’. The magistrate’s comment was hard on me to the point that I was ashamed of myself. After naming me “Mr I think” in the presence of those in court that day, he then guided me saying as a lawyer ‘you don’t think when you make your submissions”. After the sitting, he however called me and asked me when I was called to Bar. When I replied that it was just last Friday, he applauded my effort and courage, though I wished the appreciation was made in court where the embarrassment took place. Since that day, I learnt my lesson and it has become part of me till today. I am a kind of person that always want to try things and the courage I got from the magistrate has really been a blessing.

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