In addition, British legal concepts tend
to hold “due process” in the highest esteem. Now obeying the rules and
following the dictates of due process becomes especially difficult where you
have no skin for patience and meticulousness.
Perhaps for you to understand the point
better, I illustrate. You have before you a wrapped up loaf of bread. How do you
get at your bread? Do you carefully unknot or untie the wrap, slowly sorting
out the twists and ties, taking care that the wrap does not tear and reap your
reward or do you rip the wrap apart and tug forcefully at the binds to have the
loaf?
Your choice boils down to the type of
person you are. If you are of the take-it-easy cast, you go for option one. But
if you are the “hurry-hurry” type you employ the yank and tear method!
However the second option often leads to
mess and waste as the impatience driven haste creates unnecessary “mayhem”
along the way to getting the bread as the binds are torn, the wrapper raped and
loaf unduly exposed.
Due process, fair hearing, legal notice
etc., are all indicators, regulators and stipulates of Orderliness. In SOCIETY,
you not only attain orderliness but maintain it as well by Due Process and
Respect for Constituted Authority. In the JUNGLE on the other hand, orderliness
is an anathema and is as such not practiced. Everything is about power and
might, little wonder life out there is short, nasty and brutish.
I am sorry to say this, but it appears
to me that in 2015, close to 150 years after the first Nigerian became a legal
practitioner of the British legal system, most Nigerians, including lawyers
lack the mind set fit for existence in the city of Due Process. You doubt me?
Then read this tale.
An association of lawyers in a great
city of the South West had the good fortune of a donation of well equipped law
chambers made to it by a senior lawyer some years ago. The arrangement was that
the chambers would be occupied free of charge by new wigs and other young
lawyers, who would move out when they become full fledged seniors.
Unfortunately, when it was time for
former fledglings (now mature) to leave the perch, they decided to stay put.
Entreaties, admonitions failed to move the recalcitrant lawyers, much to the
angst of their colleagues.
The only option available to the
association of legal minds against their selfish and irresponsible members was
EVICTION.
The question now is which manner should
the eviction be? Should it be a recourse to court of law or a recourse to the arena
of self help?
To my deep sadness and embarrassment,
the branch chose the Arena of self help and proudly announced their choice. Now
if lawyers prefer the route of self help, what will non lawyers do?
If you care to know, I was privileged to
attend the Annual General meeting of the NBA Ibadan Branch in January 2015.
Thank you so much for your kind
attention.
