Cost of runing govt must be reduced

The Chief Justice of Nigeria recently lamented that there are too many fake lawyers in the system. Do you share his view?It is unfortunate, there is no profession in Nigeria including the medical profession that deals with human life, where you don’t have fake practitioners. In England, you cannot hear of fake lawyers because proper […]

The Chief Justice of Nigeria recently lamented that there are too many fake lawyers in the system. Do you share his view?
It is unfortunate, there is no profession in Nigeria including the medical profession that deals with human life, where you don’t have fake practitioners. In England, you cannot hear of fake lawyers because proper records of practitioners are accessible to the public. Until we begin to keep proper records, the issue of fake practitioners will continue to plague the system. I am aware that NBA is presently addressing the issue by trying to establish a data base for all lawyers enrolled to practice in the country. They are also working on Stamps and Seals. The Supreme Court should create on its portal a section where members of the public can access the name of all lawyers in the country. If this is done, it will be difficult for fake practitioners to have easy ride on the system.
How do you see the cost of governance in the country?
The cost of running government must be reduced drastically to discourage profiteers from seeking public office. There is no reason why a senator should earn more than a professor in a university. It is only in Nigeria that all categories of political office holders can be clamouring for life pension. If President Muhammadu Buhari anti-corruption crusade succeeds, he will have enough money to provide infrastructure across the country.
In fact, his economic and political programmes will only succeed to the extent of his success in the anti-corruption crusade. For me, he has started well by refusing to be drawn into the controversy of selecting or nominating leaders of the National Assembly. It is not the business of the president to nominate or even advise the National Assembly on who should be their leader.  The due process office must work to prevent fraud in the conduct of government business and not function as a clearing house of corruption.  He must devise a way of watching the watchers. The anti-corruption officials must be strictly monitored in the discharge of their duties and must not be allowed to operate as loose cannons. The cleaning exercise must start with the law enforcement agencies or else no tangible result will be achieved.
Recently, eight drug offenders were executed in Indonesia. What is your position on death sentence?
Personally, as a pacifist, I don’t subscribe to death sentence for any crime but in saying that, we must not lose sight of the damage being done to the society by drugs. Drug pushing constitutes a serious risk to the health of any society and any responsible government cannot fold its arms and allow the illicit to continue unchecked. When Buhari executed three drug pushers in 1984 most drug pushers avoided Nigeria because they knew that the implication of being caught was death sentence. If you are issued visa to some of the countries that retain death sentence for drug pushing, it would be clearly spelt out in a booklet given to you that the offence attracts capital punishment.
A person who knows the implication of taking drugs to some countries but decides to take the risk can only blame himself. It is tragic that most people become wiser after the event. It is no use claiming that you have become born again Christian after you have been sentenced to death. Many countries will not grant pardon on that basis. The proper thing is to avoid any conduct for which you may go to prison or be made to face capital punishment. The multiplying effect of crime are so much that one may not blame countries who still execute criminals for certain offences, after all, you are aware of what the law says.
It is said that justice delayed is justice denied and lawyers are being blamed for the delay of cases in court, what do you think is the cause and how can it be addressed?
It is true that some lawyers deliberately delay the hearing of their cases either to gain time for their clients or frustrate the claimant. Somebody is not sick and you procure documents indicating that the person is ill. The court may have no option than to adjourn the matter.  Some lawyers file frivolous applications and when the prayer is refused, he rushes to file an appeal and motion for stay of proceedings. Some judges do not sit on time and will readily grant an application for adjournment even when no tenable reason is offered for the application. All these contribute to delay in the administration of justice. Some of these issues are already being addressed but we can do more to sustain the confidence of the people in the administration of justice. Granting stay of proceedings on ground of interlocutory appeals should be discouraged. Where an objection is raised in a case where affidavit is used, the objection should be heard with the  substantive matter. The bench and the bar must corporate to ensure speedy and effective administration of justice.
What advice do you have for young wigs?
The advice I will give to upcoming lawyers is what I will give to anybody who want to succeed in life. Nobody can succeed in anything except he is disciplined, focused and committed. You must have passion for what you are doing. The passion sustains you when you are facing daunting challenges. I am sure you are a practising journalist not because you are paid fat salary but because you have passion for the profession. When you are passionate about something, you will readily do it even for free.
A young lawyer must serve pupillage so as to acquire useful experience before establishing his own firm.  There is no profession where there are no challenges; it is the passion that will keep you going. Don’t put money first, it will come later.