LAWYERS ONLY!

It is my first day at the University of Benin. With great trembling, veiled in  a facade of Dutch confidence and boldness I walked through the door of the Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, Complex, Faculty of Law, University of Benin.

Sparsely 20 minutes later, I walked back, out of that same gate, but this time with shame  and disappointment. The words "go get dressed like a lawyer and come back"  from Dr. Oyakhirome (now Oyakhirome J) trailed me, even though  it clearly made no sense to me, since I wasn't even a bona fide student yet, let alone a 'Lawyer'.

Still thinking of how to procure a pair of black pants, white long sleeve shirt and a dark tie (since that list never really featured in my fashion menu), I walked out of the bubbling complex. I overheard two law students-one actually, because he apparently subscribed to the ''You convince people better by shouting" school of thought. I could hear his shriek and feminine voice,'' A judge must not be loquacious. He's too loquacious to be a judge"  he cried. I could hear his voice fade away as I walked out of the complex, since I neither knew what "loquacious" meant nor had I ever heard it before. I had absolutely no interest-'What nonsense'!

Quitestrangely, those words (without the voice of course-It helped a great deal toforget the voice) stuck in my head and I quickly got to understand what they meant. It became a yardstick for assessing every Judge I met and even appeared before, moot Court Judges and real ones alike. As I got to know how important those words are in a Judge's nature, I discovered much to my utter chagrin that not many Judges, could pass for 'Not loquacious' or 'taciturn', in spite my largely lax standards.

One Judge whom effortlessly beat my erstwhile unsurpassed standards is Honourable KUDIRAT MOTOMORI OLATOKUNBO KEKERE-EKUN  JSC.

Then, as a youth corp member, still green at the bar, appearing before a trio of stern looking Court of Appeal Justices wasn't exactly far from the first time I took the leap of asking a girl out- one older than me since I was way too young to go for younger girls. Waiting to move a motion ( which of course I had never drafted before, besides the fake Kayuba Ada and Crown Kitchen ones at the Law School) in a case for which the facts were  almost  totally unknown or vague to you, save for some verbal briefings by an over expectant boss it felt like judgment day for a murder and Armed Robbery suspect- in Adams Oshiomole’s Edo State. Just as the final pint of confidence sipped out, in fast trickles, having heard your case mentioned, and the words "Appearances" hit the Courtroom, I could feel my lungs inflate with a sudden revamp.'Most respectfully My Lords....'

In 20 minutes the episode was over, but not thoughts of the raw, original and complete features of a judge filled my mind.

With priestly calmness, mastery of words, professional courtesy, polite firmness, charisma, objectivity and patience Justice Kekere-Ekun was simply of the most outstanding character and definitely an epitome of what every Judge should be. Having appeared before quite a few others, I'm forced to conviction that my assessment about His Lordship is hardly based on some random conclusion borne out of a hasty and uncomprehensive study.

Turning to judgments and delivery, His lordship's unique style of delivery is one to be applauded in no small measure.

Taking every fact and shredding it into tiny yarns and applying the most apt principle of law, His Lordship made a fine art of judgments. As she read out her rulings, the perfect sequence and harmony of the plot forced lawyers and litigants into an unavoidable feat of suspense as the courtroom would always be dead silent, waiting for the climax. Those judgments would surely fall nothing short of several PhD theses I have seen.

Correcting erring lawyers in the most courteous and professional manner, without deflating their effervescent, fragile and well polished egos, Justice Kekere-Ekun maintained the beauty of wearing a robe much to the admiration of the gallery.

With such qualities of a Judge, its hard to see why Your Lordship won't be promoted to grand level of a Supreme Court Justice not for any reason, but on the basis of merit. In the words of Senator David Mark, “It is a welcome development for the Supreme Court and I think emphasis should be on merit and not on gender". These few words no doubt says it all. Also, according to Professor Taiwo Osipitan SAN, “I entertain no doubt that the Bar, The Bench, lovers of Justice, fair play and transparency will benefit from the elevation of Justice Kekere-Ekun to the Apex Court”

As an advocate of substantial justice over technicality, His Lordship’s judgment in ALHAJA AYO OMIDIRAN V. ETTEH PATRICIA OLUBUNMI AND ORS (2010) LPELR-CA/I/EPT/NA/95/08 and, FATOKI V. BARUWA (2012)14 NWLR (PT.1319)P.3 amongst so many speaks loud.

I need not say anything else but to wish this stoic of an Amazon the fruits of her hard work, diligence, integrity, honesty and above all Justice. Your achievements are far from over. Keep waxing stronger and onto greater heights.

NB; THIS PIECE WAS SO CAPTIONED NOT TO RESTRICT THE READERSHIP OR AUDIENCE TO LAWYERS ALONE BUT TO  INNOCENTLY HARNESS THE BENEFITS OF REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY ON  THE INTELLIGENT MINDS OF MY READERS. BUT SINCE STOLEN WINE IS SWEETER, I'M SURE THEY WOULD WANT TO SATISFY THEIR CURIOSITY. SO, I GUESS IT WORKED!

BY EHIWUOGWU ONYEKA for Zeus Telescope^®

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