'After Segun Who?' By Adesina Ogunlana

THE LEARNED SQUIB
1st March, 2001


Believe it or not, the Chief Judge (Of Lagos State) is gone. Gone not into eternity, but gone nonetheless, is Christopher Segun, C.J.

The reign of Segun C.J has virtually come to an end and all we are waiting for is the valedictory service and all the hypocritical paeans that would be sung there. Long live the C.J!

But who shall be the next C.J? Definitely not my humble self. Thank you so much. As to be expected, present and future contenders for the post are already perfecting their strategies, which may or may not include attending Governor Tinubu’s mother-in-law’s cousin’s birthday, continental prostrations, advanced Nicodemustic meetings, statutory age adjustments and amendments, etc.

This post (Chief Judge) must be sweet indeed. It is not and cannot be just an icing on the gateau, in all honesty, it is the very gateau. A judge, I say, is to a Chief Judge, what (permit my insouciant simile) a peck is to a French kiss.

I am very interested in who becomes the next Chief Judge of Lagos State. And don’t blame me. That worthy is very crucial to every practicing counsel’s success, nay survival, in Lagos State, he being the engine room of the administration of justice here.

If he is good, competent and committed, the judiciary becomes vibrant and progressive. If not, disaster. True, nobody is an angel but then a crooked judge should never become a Chief Judge. That position is too powerful, too strategic, and too respectable to be occupied by a rapscallion, who for example will delight in mistressing magistrates and ju-jitsuing judges’ benefits into his own pocket. At least a good C.J must have three virtues: (a) Good health (b) Discipline (c) Wisdom.

Qualities such as these should be used in determining who should be the next Chief Judge and not some disgusting criteria such as – Lagos State indigene ship, asinine seniority, membership of some “Sogologo-Bangoshe” lodges and cults, or kinship with so called Kingmakers.

I will never pray for a corrupt, thieving, alive-today-dead-tomorrow “money-money” judge as the Chief Judge. Such a misfit full of Judas anointing, cannot guide or discipline judges under him or her. Petitions of aggrieved innocents would be neglected. Bailiffs and Sheriffs will go berserk ab initio. Registrars will go mad in toto. Things will fall apart and anguish will pierce the heart of many.

Those who pride themselves as the pillars of the legal profession in Lagos State and have roles to play in the appointment of Chief Judge of Lagos State should put on their thinking caps and do the right thing.

If not, the terrible axe called Nemesis shall fall on them and their households.

A CURSE? NO, A PROPHECY.

Related link: http://www.learnedsquib.blogspot.com