My Corruption Story – Bayo Akinlade
I realised something that I had forgotten before. Why did I come back to Nigeria 9 years ago? Why did the corruption in the judiciary disgust me so? It came rushing back… Seeing the many victims of corruption, seeing tears in the eyes of litigants when registrars, prosecutors, judges and lawyers took all they had from them and they still didn’t get justice. When I saw lawyers bow their heads in despair as their clients gave large sums to court officials while they were told to wait for their own small pay, when I see lawyers walk the streets as sheriffs, registrars etc drive their cars or cars that were subject of litigation to the homes they built with money they extorted from lawyers and litigants.
I have been laughed at, mocked and ridiculed by uneducated, unprofessional and less educated court officials who will boldly tell me that I can’t get a service in court without parting with some money
My first experience was in 2010 with my first case after relocating to Nigeria given to me by a family member to get me going…. I was in the sheriff department in Ikeja when a sheriff treated me like crap while making enquiries about serving my process. He showed me my process and told me bluntly that I must pay him before he goes to serve and pay him before I collect proof. Nothing I said moved him. I tried to see the person in charge but I was given the run around. The final blow was when a senior lawyer that I knew in my earlier days as asst secretary of NBA LAGOS branch told me that I had no *choice* but to give them or my case will ‘suffer’……A Senior lawyer told me that? Hecould not even stand with me or support me!
Lawyers and litigants ‘suffer’ because they have no ‘choice’? NO NO NO…. I HAVE A CHOICE , I AM A LAWYER & MINISTER IN THE TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, AN ADVOCATE, THIS JUDICIARY IS MY TERRITORY, MY WORK SPACE, AN EXTENTION OF MY OFFICE, the registrars are but there to serve me as my secretary or my clerk. They cannot dictate for me…. I began to find my feet, I told my clients…… I don’t do bribes, your case may take time so if you want it fast go get another lawyer and most of them did. I busted my butt for the less privileged because the rich ones didn’t want someone who could not do the NEEDFUL.
9 YEARS BACK IN NIGERIA I don’t even have a Tokunboh Car BUT I HAVE WHAT MONEY CANNOT BUY, WHAT NO MAN CAN TAKE AWAY FROM ME.
I will not sell out my children’s future for the illusion of getting them all they need now and some extra for the future…. What about the future of other children whose parents are not fortunate
The more corruption thrives, the more we loose our soul and our future.
I am BAYO AKINLADE ESQ, National Convener of FIACIJ #IstandagainstcorruptionINtheJUDICIARY
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