When were you called to the Bar and how long have you been practising? I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003, that is, 13 years of law practice. Can you recall the first time you presented a case in court; if you do, what make the experience unforgettable? Yes, that was during my youth service days. I was given a file to go to court. The matter was for mention and we were for the claimant. So, my principal had given me the file to appear alone since it was for mention. I was initially very tense and hysterical but my principal encouraged me to go. He said that since the matter was for mention it meant nothing serious was going to take place. He said I should just tell the court it was for mention. So, when I got to the court, luckily the lawyer on the other side also sent a junior who was also a corper, it was then that my tension doused. We exchanged pleasantries and I became quite confident that I could do it. I guess he felt the same way too. So, when the matter was called, I announced appearance and he did also. I informed the court that the matter was for mention and I sat down. The judge was waiting to hear more and I had nothing more to say. He said, ‘Yes, counsel, go on, I’m listening.” I said, ‘My Lord, the case is for mention.’ ‘Yes, mention it,” he said. He apparently knew that I was a new wig and as such was a bit lenient on me. I wondered in my mind how else to mention the case. The lawyers in court were giggling and smiling. It was a full court. I became very confused. Then a senior counsel whispered to me to tell the court the state of the pleadings and whether there was any pending motion. It was then that I was able to properly mention the case before the court. The other lawyer was asked to confirm the position which he did. It was an unforgettable experience for me because that was the first day I ever appeared in court alone and it was from that experience that I knew what it means for a matter to be fixed for mention. Was there a mistake you made in your early days in practice that you will never repeat? Yes. The day I got late to the court after our matter had been called and adjourned as a result of my absence in court. The court awarded cost against us. It was a very regrettable experience for me. I didn’t really know how to endorse my file for that day or how to inform my principal that I went late to court and as such I didn’t meet the proceedings of that day. Since then I have always endeavored to be in court before the court starts sitting. What are the sacrosanct things to you when preparing for a court appearance? First and foremost, you have to study your file. You have to know your case like you know your name. You have to have the position of your case at your fingertips. You have to know what processes are in the file and what processes you need to prepare and file. You have to know what your matter is coming up for on each day the case comes up. This is very important so that the other party will not take you unawares. When you know your case, it is easy for you to speak to any issue that may arise at any time in court. Then you have to study the applicable laws and the Rules of Court. This will help you to present your case well to the court. Thirdly, you have to study the psychology of the court before which you are appearing. Don’t forget that judges are normal human beings like you and I, so, they have different temperaments and different ways of handling issues. What goes for you in one court may not go for you in another court. Finally, ensure your dressing is neat and within the confines of the lawyers’ dress code. Shabby dressing may negatively affect the impression the court will have on a lawyer which will in turn affect the lawyer’s case in court. It may also earn you some embarrassment in court. I have seen cases where the judge walked out a counsel for not being properly dressed. Even where the judge did not walk out the counsel but made some remarks about his/her dressing, it might affect the lawyer’s confidence in court which in turn would affect his case presentation. What qualities do you think helps you in your job as the editor of ‘Nigeria Oil and Gas Cases’ under the watch of Mr. Uche Nwokedi (SAN)? Well, because I’ve been in the business of law reporting since 2005, I can say that one of the qualities that help me is experience. I started up as a proof reader of the Nigerian Weekly Law Report and there I grew to the position of an Assistant Editor. I was also an Assistant Editor of the Supreme Court Reports published by Law Breeds before I came to edit the Nigeria Oil and Gas Cases. So, I can say that the experience I garnered over the years is helping me. Another thing is the ability to pay attention to details. In law reporting, every word counts! A word can change the whole meaning of a statement. Particularly, words like “is”, “not” etc. So, one has to be very careful and patient when editing a law report. You have to read between the lines. To you, what is the most challenging thing about editing a law report? The most challenging thing in law reporting generally, I can say, is when you are editing a judgment you do not agree with. Perhaps you believe the judgment was given in error. You have to exercise due caution to ensure that the principles of law extrapolated are in tune with the judgment of the court even if you do not believe in that particular judgment. The NOGC being a specialised law report is more technical because you have to ensure that the principle of law you are extrapolating will be useful for the oil and gas law researchers. So, it is a bit more challenging. Again, being published by Lexis Nexis which is a foreign publisher, we face the challenge of Forex shortage which is ravaging the country at the moment. Who are the people you look up to or admire in the legal profession? I have been privileged to work with a few senior legal practitioners and SANs. But the truth is that there is none I admire his manner of practice like my present principal, Mr. Uche Nwokedi, SAN. I am not saying this because I am working with him now. No. In fact, my kind of person cannot work too long with a principal I don’t appreciate. I have worked with Mr. Uche Nwokedi, SAN for about six years now and I must tell you, he is someone a junior can look up to. He is a role model in the legal profession. He is humble, respectful, intelligent, hardworking and honest. He is not a bully like so many principals in this profession are. He does not see himself as a “know-it-all” person. Source: Punch]]>