Why I Might Decide To Be A Judge Of A High Court At 10 Years Of Call To Bar!

By Hameed Ajibola Jimoh Esq.

Democratically, the judiciary is one of the three arms of government especially as far as Nigeria is concerned. It is the only arm of government that has to do with ‘professionalism’ because a person qualified to be appointed as a judge of superior court of record (a High Court in this context) in Nigerian judiciary/courts must as a constitutional requirement be not less than ten (10) years as a lawyer. According to the Legal Practitioners Act, 2004, a person becomes a lawyer upon his called to bar and enrollment on the register of legal practitioners at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. I have been engaged in private practice for just a few years till present. Nevertheless, I still feel not fulfilled in my private practice and I am currently considering perhaps I should decide to be a Judge of a High Court at 10 years of my call to bar and being a lawyer, hence, this paper.

First and foremost, the requirement for the appointment of a Judge of High Courts are clearly spelt out in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)-herein after referred to as the Constitution- and for the purpose of not consuming space in this article, I would just state that such person shall by 250 (3), 256 (3) and 271 (3) of the Constitution for: a Federal High Court of Nigeria, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory-Abuja and the High Court of a State (these three courts are the context of this paper and that is why I decided to leave out other superior courts having coordinate jurisdiction with the three courts mentioned of which one of their requirements for being a judge of such courts is the same as these three courts mentioned i.e. such a person shall be qualified to practice as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than ten years).

My thought on whether I should be a Judge of a High Court (though with likely interest in the Federal High of Nigeria and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja except where possible of Lagos State-my State of origin), is motivated by a number of factors. I pondered on my past and growth leading to my becoming a lawyer as well as my focus and future ambition on careers in the legal profession. When I was young, and up till this level, I had faced a lot of challenges. I could remember in my childhood, many inspirations had occurred to me in my dreams and in real life, but which I could not understand. I asked some persons around me but they were not gifted by God to be able to interpret my dreams to me, perhaps, because, it was in God’s plan that it was not yet time to actually discover the message. Sometimes in the dream is seeing some persons bowing to me in respect and making me their king! I had no one to pay my primary school fees after my primary school completion, so had to be out of school for two (2) years with tears in my eyes and in my heart! These two years were respectively full of traumatic experiences for me but God has always been helpful by providing me way-out whenever required. So, had to engage in selling ‘iced-water and other menial jobs’ in the streets of Abeokuta, Ogun State, at age 12, before making my way to my State, Lagos State, in the year 2000. Then, I got admission back to the Junior Secondary School and God brought me close to those who would share my pains. I had to be responsible for my education, myself, with determination! Why and how? I did not understand! So, after my Senior Secondary School, I was made to remain out of school again and this time for another three (3) years. Within these three (3) years, I was made to be mentored and taught by some few intelligentsia in the society. They explained some secrets of this life to me. They informed me of what the future has in package for me. They made me to discover myself as to my potentilas and prospects in life but that I should be patient and that my life is to face a lot of challenges but that they foresee greatness in me in future and that I should be prayerful! It was like a divine interpretation and message to me then, though, they spoke normally and naturally without consulting any voodoo. And when they spoke, I would follow in the spirit. Then, God also guided me towards religious principles and made way easy for me to excel in Islamic school and bestowed on me the knowledge to understand His Islamic laws with clear interpretations and meanings. So, when I was able to pass through these stages, God Almighty having decided to then perfect His intention on me, He made me to return back to the tertiary institution with one of my results that I had believed was not sufficient for me to gain admission about two years past. That year, my admission was secure. My tertiary institution changed its requirements for admission which made me to be a beneficiary. I got admission into the law faculty and God also made it easier for me to study Islamic Personal Law. God was able to resolve the financial challenges of studying the law programme by raising an unknown philanthropist and some charitable organisations under their Education Trust Funds (ETF) Program who sponsored my law programme from the admission fees till law school fees when I got called to bar as a legal practitioner. There and then in my undergraduate level, so many persons have identified my future status in life and were always praying for my success, though, then, I was much more surprised as to their comments! God considered me for some scholarships in undergraduate too, which made it easier for me to study. I could remember that I went to my tertiary institution upon admission, with no particular place to reside and God did not disappoint me as He sent a man to me immediately I entered the school campus who took care of me in feeding and shelter for my first year  and gave me accommodation where I resided till I graduated! I was poor and destitute but intellectually equipped with talents! In fact, my understanding and interpretation of law and legal principles always appear to me in talents aided by little learning! I can not thank these many people whom God has used to impact in my life, indeed! I pray God Almighty will continue to reward them with abundant good! Then, when I finished my law programme and upon my National Youth Service Corps-herein after referred to as NYSC-, God made me to be in the Legal Aid Community Development Service as an Assistant Director 1 of Litigation. In my service, I was able to carry out personal community development service project, which I was able to complete in less than four months and I was awarded the FCT-Minister’s Award of Honour, at the passing out parade in the NYSC. I was the only lawyer among the five (5) awardees! I was not offered any job by the Minister of the FCT! I got a law firm to work as an associate for just two months and one week, then, the message from God came to me that I should resign and to establish my own office. I myself could not explain why I resigned! I could always recall what a Co-partner in that office told me when he called me into his office to know the reason for my resignation? After listening to me, then he said ‘I know that this place (even a large law office) is too small for you and I know that you will make it’! It was a prayer for me and discovery of my prospects in life! Then, God Himself located an office for me where I practice till date (sine about five (5) years a go). Then, I placed some name to register my law office with the Corporate Affairs Commission. Of the names that I suggested, it was the one that was least expected by me that was approved ‘THE VICEGERENT LEGAL CONSULT’ but I later found joy in the name. How I came about that name still remains a surprise to me till date. Then, in 2016, I got a call unknowingly to proceed to Saudi-Arabia to perform the Islamic Holy Pilgrimage, where God used some men of intellect to explain all the dark side and unclear experiences and dreams in my life to alert me that I have been indeed chosen for His work as a ‘Human Rights and Socio-Economic Rights Activist’! It was then that I discovered who I am ‘THE VICEGERENT OF GOD ON EARTH AND A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST DIVINELY CHOSEN’! And God has always made my human rights and socio-economic rights activism easy for me and I thank Him! Some persons have disliked me and wondered why I chose to fight for humanity! To them, it looks like a self-seeking and a show-off! I use this medium to explain to them that that decision is not my decision but that of God Almighty and I have no choice than to obey! I require their understanding and support for me to be able to achieve the goals of God Almighty on me!

Furthermore, I decided to create a whatapp group to help giving legal aid to Nigerians of all categories (excluding lawyers) by establishing a Forum with the name ‘Hameed Ajibola Jimoh Esq.’s Pro bono Legal Mentorship Forum (LMF), with the link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KP3U082KkyTKB6XaNvzT3o. This is to be my continuous roles in legal services to humanity.

Furthermore, (not a pride or arrogance) I am seven (7) years (post call to bar) now. I have ever been in private practice and I have been operating my law office for five (5) years till date. Within this five (5) years, I have handled and still handling more than sixty (60) cases which include several litigation matters in courts across the Federal Capital Territory- Abuja, such as: Area Courts; Chief District Courts, Chief Magistrate Court, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory-Abuja; the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja; the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, Abuja and the Supreme Court of Nigeria (the matter at the Supreme Court of Nigeria is a new development which I am currently prosecuting). Majority of these cases are already concluded while a few of them are ongoing. More than thirty (30) cases of these cases are at the High Court’s level, while seven (7) of these cases are of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria (1 Judgment of the Court of Appeal has already been recently delivered) while 1 of these cases is pending at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. All these cases were handled by me personally! I understand that I might only be required to need two (2) additional cases in the Supreme Court to qualify to apply for the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), which I could meet up with in few periods to come, having met up with the requirements for the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Nevertheless all these achievements, I am yet to be fulfilled in the legal profession/legal practice (though I am very happy for having gone this far!). I have proferred a number of legal opinions/advice to individual clients, corporate organisations and government’s institutions so far.

I have therefore thought of maybe I should apply to be a Judge of a High Court. At least, I have done and tried my best in private practice as a private lawyer though the law and in fact the legal practice is very wide an ocean that no one can paddle all its areas. One would only do part and leave the rest for others. My interest in ensuring that justice prevails at all cost made me to take human rights activism as a major path in the legal practice. I believe that this interest can still be satisfied if I become a Judge of a High Court. There are indeed two paths or careers for me at the moment and in the legal profession- that is either I decide to be a Judge or to continue to thread the path of private practice and enjoy the privilege of becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)!

Until then, I shall continue to put in my best efforts and continue to pray for God’s guidance in all my endeavours!

email: hameed_ajibola@yahoo.com