Was embarrassed hen client poured inventives on judge, evaded arrest after pleading guilty

Akanbi Abdulkadir Alubarka bagged Bachelor of Art in English Education from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, between 1997 and 2001 before studying Law at the same institution from 2008-2012. In 2014, he went to Nigerian Law School and was called to Bar the following year. During his law school days, he practiced as intern with Tunji Adeniran, Ore-Ofe Chambers, he also had a brief stint with Bola Rasaq Gold, Adoration chambers before establishing his own law firm, A.A Alubarika & Co. which was recently renamed as ‘Law Masters Chambers’ located in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. He shares with our JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENT, KAYODE ADEOTI, the most daunting experience he ever had in legal practice. Excerpts:

My most dramatic moment in court was a funny one though it happened this week Monday. A husband sold a property outside the consent of his wife. When the wife got to know, she insisted that she is not going to sell the property and opted to collect the money from her husband. The following day, those that bought the property were invited but the husband could not provide the complete money for the exchange. So, the matter was reported at the ‘A’ Divisional police station and thereafter, it was taken to court.

In court, the man pleaded guilty to the offence, and in lieu of that, court will give judgment, but I had to suspend my cross examination in order to delay dispensation of that proceedings. The purpose of doing that was for the man to source for the money before the next adjourned date.

On the adjourned date, which was on Monday, the man was returned to the prison because the money was not complete. The judge felt that since he has pleaded guilty, he may run away so he denied him bail. Though the woman too was arraigned but her bail was not refused.

While the prison warden were taking him back to the prison, he was shouting, pouring inventives on the court, he felt he was going to be given bail, so he never knew he would be taken back to prison. He was of the opinion that if he’s granted bail, he thought he will be able to get the money paid, claiming that many people are owing him too.

Being my client, I felt so bad about the incident, I had to go and meet the judge and apologise on his behalf.