‘AN INSIGHT INTO THE REAL JUSTICE ARIWOOLA, ACTING CJN,’ BY LAWYER

By Ibrahim Lawal

My life as a student activist in University of Ibadan exposed me to all kinds of experience particularly brushes with authorities about objectionable policies aimed at stiffening Independent Unionism. I joined Democratic Student Movement (DSM) with the likes of Babatunde Oluajo a.k.a Sankara and other left wing students movements to champion the course of independent Unionism.

I was elected the Speaker of the Students’ Union Parliament while Solomon Ben Olonade was the president of the Students’ Union. We made no pretence about independent Unionism as we took over everything that belongs to the students. Contrary to the practice of the students’ union account being co-signed by the Students Affairs officers, we stood our grounds that the student union must be allowed to run their affairs without interference from the authority.

These decision did not go down well with the authority particularly our resolve to operate the campus cab through the office of the Vice President, Osazere who doggedly operated the campus cab without let or hinderance.

The University authority having sensed our resolve as a union leader, dissolved the union by a release and ordered that the management and control of the union is now in the hand of the Students’ Affairs Officer.

The Union under our leadership resolved to challenge the dissolution of the union by filing a fundamental right proceedings in court. On the day of the hearing of the case, we mobilised greatest UI to the Oyo State High Court presided by Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola now the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria. I remember vividly that some Zikites came to court with ordinary towel wrapped in their waist while some appeared with nickers without cloth.

We were represented in court by Mr. Kunle Sobaloju while the University was represented by Late Ladosu Ladapo SAN. Mr. Sobaloju powerfully submitted before the court the illegality inherent in the decision of the university authority to dissolve our union without affording us a hearing. Late Ladosu Ladapo SAN on the other hand emphasized the need for discipline as a justification for the dissolution. He even told the court to see the way some of our colleagues appeared in court and the unruly manner we conducted ourselves.

His Lordship while delivering his ruling not only declared the action of the UI management on the dissolution of the union as null and void, he went further to commend the students on their peaceful conduct in court. I was personally impressed with the decision of my Lord as it restates the fact that the judiciary is indeed the last hope of the common man.

It is therefore a thing of joy to me that His Lordship is sworn in today as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, and I pray that may Almighty Allah spare his Lordship life and enable my Lord to make positive impact in the judiciary.

Congratulations my Lord.

Ibrahim Lawal is the Head of Chamber, Olujinmi & Akeredolu.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

LAW SCHOOL CLASS ’91 OPENS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

In fulfillment of its pledge to award 30 scholarships to indigent students of the Nigerian Law School in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Nigerian Law School “Class of 1991” has invited applications from prospective beneficiaries.

A statement signed by foremost litigator and Chairman of the 30th Anniversary Planning Committee, Prof. Paul Ananaba SAN indicated that the application window closes on November 20, 2021. All applications are to be emailed to nls1991anniversary@gmail.com.

According to the eligibility criteria, each applicant must

1) be admitted to the Nigerian Law School for the 2021/2022 academic year and must be able to take up the admission;

2) be able to demonstrate a need for financial assistance by submitting a short essay of not more than 250 words explaining why he/she deserves this scholarship.

3) be able to demonstrate a career plan;

4) have earned a minimum of Second Class Honours degree.

According to Ananaba who is also the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), “The scholarships are designed to assist indigent Law School students and to ensure that impecuniosity does not stand in the way of a Bar aspirant becoming a member of the noble profession.”

Speaking further on the forthcoming anniversary which has the Dinner & Awards Night holding on December 10, 2021 at Nigerian Air Force Mess, Kado District, Abuja as one of its highlights, Ananaba said: “It is our way of giving back to the society. Many of our class mates have made their marks in several fields of endeavour. Some of the alumni are governors, jurists, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, just name it! Ours is one of the most successful classes that the Nigerian Law School has ever produced. We are grateful to God for this uncommon grace upon our members. Another highlight of the red-carpet Dinner & Awards Night is a ‘Special Recognition Award’ to a deserving honores.”

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.