Was tough confronting senior colleague in my maiden court appearance – Barr. Shuaib

Bar Ibrahim Shuaib graduated from the University of Ilorin in 2009 and had his NYSC in Akure with Abdurahman Yusuf & Co. He proceed to law school and was called to bar in 2011. He had his court attachment with late Justice Akoja and his chamber attachment at Rasheed Lawal Rabana (SAN) here in Ilorin. He is presently working as a counsel in the chambers of Dr Ariyoosu & Co. (Crown chambers). In this telephone interview with ACTING EDITOR, MUMINI ABDULKAREEM, he takes us through his unforgettable moment as a budding counsel. Excerpts:

My brother, that is a day I will never forget in my life and up till this day, I used to tell people that the my first experience when I appeared alone in court as a counsel was very tough for me. It happened just two weeks after I joined the chambers of Ariyoosu & Co. around November 2011. I was given a file by my boss and as a young lawyer who just joined the law firm weeks ago, to go and appear before the Lafiagi High Court in Kwara North to argue an application with a very senior colleague, Suleiman Abaya. Our firm was the owner of the application and he was the opponent. Before going to the court, I initially felt disturbed and to worsen the situation, after moving my application which is normally done on paper telling the court that you want to adjourn. But after adopting my application, Barrister Abaya attacked all the documents attached to my application that they are not worthy for the consideration of the court. That actually threw me aback as to what to do next and with time I summoned courage and reacted to few of them. That is a day I will never forget in my life and it was very tough for me.