A Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Sonnie Ekwowusi who is also the
principal partner of the law firm, Sonnie Ekwowusi & Co, has called
on lawyers to reflect on how to end impunity in the judiciary
![image](/2020/10/NWLR1.jpg")
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
In a statement made available to Nairalaw (TNL) with
endIMPUNITYinthejudiciary Hashtag,
Ekwowusi said children and grandchildren cannot demand for better
Nigeria while lawyers keep quiet without taking steps to cleanse
the judiciary
“These are indeed times that try men’s souls.
“These are times for sober reflection for all Nigerian lawyers
inclusive. In fact, Nigerian lawyers should at the moment be
reflecting on how to end impunity in the dispensation of justice in
Nigeria. Our children and grandchildren cannot be on the streets
and in trenches struggling to enthrone a better Nigeria, and, we
lawyers who are born leaders and officers in the temple of justice,
are reluctant in cleansing the judiciary of it’s yesteryears
accumulated rots.” he said
Ekwowusi narrated that a “strange travesty” happened to him many
years ago at the Ikeja High Court presided over by a certain
judge.
He said a lawyer boasted to him (Ekwowusi) that the Court was
his (the other lawyer’s) court and vowed to show him (Ekwowusi)
“pepper” and the lawyer had his way. He petitioned the presiding
judge afterwards but yet nothing was done about it.
“My matter was called. I stood up and announced my appearance
for my clients. Our learned colleague on the other side, who, to my
utter shock, had openly boasted in open court, that the court was
“his court” and that he would show me “pepper” in the matter, also
stood up and announced his appearance. Midway in the hearing of the
matter, the Honourable Judge got angry with me for allegedly
claiming to have effected service when in her own estimation no
service had been effected.
“Thereafter she angrily got up from her imposing seat, left the
harrowed and sacred chamber of the Bench, furiously charged at me
at the Bar in a manner that seemed as if she was challenging me to
an open duel court. Who was I to engage a judge in an open
altercation in an open court for that matter? So, what did I do in
my scandalized state? I swiftly packed my bag and baggage and quit
the court. Of course, in my absence, she continued with my matter
and later ruled against my clients.
“On getting my office, I penned down a powerful petition against
the Judge. To cut the long story short, nothing positive has come
out of my petition since then.
The judge is now a senior judge who may Someday become Chief
Judge.” he lamented
Ekwowusi called on lawyers not to keep quiet to suffer in
silence anymore. He admitted that though protest cannot be staged,
but lawyers should speak up.
He said, “You reading this has more woeful encounters to
narrate. I know you have. But should we continue to keep quiet over
all these oddities? No. Should we continue to suffer in silence?
No. Should we senior lawyers continue to overlook travesties?
No.
“Then let us do something now. Of course, we must NOT stage a
protest. But let us speak up. Let us demand for an end to impunity
in the judiciary.
“Evil thrives, justice us scuttled when learned gentlemen keep
quiet.”
A Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Sonnie Ekwowusi who is also the
principal partner of the law firm, Sonnie Ekwowusi & Co, has called
on lawyers to reflect on how to end impunity in the judiciary
In a statement made available to Nairalaw (TNL) with
endIMPUNITYinthejudiciary Hashtag,
Ekwowusi said children and grandchildren cannot demand for better
Nigeria while lawyers keep quiet without taking steps to cleanse
the judiciary
“These are indeed times that try men’s souls.
“These are times for sober reflection for all Nigerian lawyers
inclusive. In fact, Nigerian lawyers should at the moment be
reflecting on how to end impunity in the dispensation of justice in
Nigeria. Our children and grandchildren cannot be on the streets
and in trenches struggling to enthrone a better Nigeria, and, we
lawyers who are born leaders and officers in the temple of justice,
are reluctant in cleansing the judiciary of it’s yesteryears
accumulated rots.” he said
Ekwowusi narrated that a “strange travesty” happened to him many
years ago at the Ikeja High Court presided over by a certain
judge.
He said a lawyer boasted to him (Ekwowusi) that the Court was
his (the other lawyer’s) court and vowed to show him (Ekwowusi)
“pepper” and the lawyer had his way. He petitioned the presiding
judge afterwards but yet nothing was done about it.
“My matter was called. I stood up and announced my appearance
for my clients. Our learned colleague on the other side, who, to my
utter shock, had openly boasted in open court, that the court was
“his court” and that he would show me “pepper” in the matter, also
stood up and announced his appearance. Midway in the hearing of the
matter, the Honourable Judge got angry with me for allegedly
claiming to have effected service when in her own estimation no
service had been effected.
“Thereafter she angrily got up from her imposing seat, left the
harrowed and sacred chamber of the Bench, furiously charged at me
at the Bar in a manner that seemed as if she was challenging me to
an open duel court. Who was I to engage a judge in an open
altercation in an open court for that matter? So, what did I do in
my scandalized state? I swiftly packed my bag and baggage and quit
the court. Of course, in my absence, she continued with my matter
and later ruled against my clients.
“On getting my office, I penned down a powerful petition against
the Judge. To cut the long story short, nothing positive has come
out of my petition since then.
The judge is now a senior judge who may Someday become Chief
Judge.” he lamented
Ekwowusi called on lawyers not to keep quiet to suffer in
silence anymore. He admitted that though protest cannot be staged,
but lawyers should speak up.
He said, “You reading this has more woeful encounters to
narrate. I know you have. But should we continue to keep quiet over
all these oddities? No. Should we continue to suffer in silence?
No. Should we senior lawyers continue to overlook travesties?
No.
“Then let us do something now. Of course, we must NOT stage a
protest. But let us speak up. Let us demand for an end to impunity
in the judiciary.
“Evil thrives, justice us scuttled when learned gentlemen keep
quiet.”