Raheem Ismaila was called to the bar in 2008 after a previous degree in education, something bigger than him told him he had to study law. He went back to the University of Ilorin and became a lawyer, a voice to himself and a voice to other people.
Law is about conscience and justice; he hates oppression. In chat with ADETUNJI AYOBROWN, he shared one of his most dramatic days in the court of law. Excerpts;
It was a land matter between two sons of the same father.
Right in the open court, my client said, “lawyer please, I want to change my mind, all those things I told earlier in your office were all lies, while this scenario was on my lord was recording us”.
Whereas we already we already had the agreement on what to say right in my office.
I tried all efforts to interrupt but the judge disagreed with me. Saying, “no counsel, let this your client speak his mind”.
My client said, “the person you are fighting is the true owner of land and not us”.
“I remember I will die one day. My lord all I have told the lawyer earlier in his office has been a lie.”
I then said, “not that I push him to lie to the court. My lord, I am happy my client said all that he told me were lies”.
I just packed my things left after the court rose.
That he lied under the oath, which is an offence, I intended to make sure the law dealt with him. I never knew he was lying to me”.
Though I later asked him why he did that. I said “Baba don’t you remember that you will die one before writing statements in our office and signing an affidavit before court?
But he said, “I just realised all that now”.
I was happy he at least said the truth. Because I don’t go to court for my client to win at all costs.
