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‘My love for wig spurred my interest in law’

Aminu Ruth Esagese obtained her LL.B from Ambrose Alli University and was called to Bar in 2018. She shares her pupilage experience with JOHN CHIKEZIE

 

Background

My name is Aminu Ruth Esagese. I’m a native of Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State. I attended Rivers Estate Primary School, Ajaokuta Kogi State. My secondary education was at Sally Academy High School, Kogi State.

 

I bagged my LL.B degree from the prestigious Ambrose Alli University and graduated from the Nigerian Law School, Abuja Campus, in 2018.

 

Why Law?

I have always had the interest to argue and be heard. I have always wanted to be in a crowd and air my views on particular issues and still be admired. I just wanted to wear that ‘wig’.

 

I wanted to wear heels and hear myself talk. Oh yes! I just wanted to be a lawyer and that interest made me study until I became one. I started my legal practice at the Ministry of Justice, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and I was graced enough to be attached to the Solicitor General of Bayelsa State. I was both a pupil state counsel and a legal administrator.

This was the foundation of my legal administrative practice. After my service year, I was engaged by the law firm of the former Hon. Attorney General of Bayelsa State, where I practiced for some time and was subsequently engaged in the law firm of F. T. Okorotie & Co, all in Bayelsa State.

In pursuit of satisfaction and interest, I started off as a Real Estate Consultant and I’ve been a contract staff to some real estate companies in Lagos State where I offer legal administrative duties and services.

 

Specialization

 

I’m a Real Estate Consultant. I work with several organisations and bodies on contract, I prepare deeds and write letters and also make documents and legal agreements. I do legal administrative services generally.

 

My interest in real estate was as a result of my passion for legal administrative services. I love litigation but I feel real estate comes with a lot of opportunities. I don’t have to tie myself on a particular thing for a long time.

 

Of course, real estate is lucrative, and it isn’t so stressful. I like the fact that it is less stressful than litigation, well that’s for me though. My visit to land registries and offices has exposed me to many areas of law yet to be harnessed, even by the ‘big wigs’.

Justice system and rights’ violation

The judiciary, as the last arm of government, is primarily bestowed with the duty to interpret laws. This means that as the last hope for the      common man, it must dispense this duty for the benefit of the injured or victim without fear or favour.

 

This is the model of a perfect judicial system and of course, the justice system of any independent state or nation.

 

This situation is further enhanced by the stability of the principles of checks and balances and of course, separation of powers to which the dispensation of justice by any court of law is carried out and justice restored.

 

Cases of violation of human rights in Nigeria has been on the rise recently and the causes are found to be related to increase in robbery cases, lack of proper, investigation, kidnappings, killings and joblessness.

 

We hear of constant violation of rights of citizens by law enforcement agents, who often use their offices to exploit their victims. It is saddening how justice for victims of these violations is never achieved.

 

The reason for this assertion is that some victims are often reluctant to go through the process of criminal trials and secondly their apathy may be borne out of a lost battle in the end.

 

Their reluctance may be as a result of the constant threats they get from these law enforcement agents, which has sank deep into their subconscious and they feel it is, maybe, a waste of time after all.

 

However, victims of police brutality, for instance, shouldn’t be blamed in its entirety as the process of bringing these law enforcement agencies to book after conviction and making them serve the punishment of the law are rarely enforced, which is the total lack of independence of the judiciary as I earlier mentioned.

We also have the problem of the delay in the delivery of justice for the complainant. The constant adjourned dates of matters, even for trivial issues, is alarming on the part of our judicial system.

A defendant standing trial for kidnapping maybe standing trial for up to 3 years before a decision or judgement is given. With situations like these, perpetrators may even continue their criminal acts with the awareness that bail may be granted to them to live normal lives until justice is dispensed or even not.

 

 

Litigation challenges

One of the basic challenges facing litigation in Nigeria is lack of Independence of the judiciary.

The justice system in Nigeria has not been allowed to function on its own for a long long time. Cases of election petitions before courts in Nigeria are constrained to give the right judgements to aggrieved parties because of fear of these judges even vacating the offices they so occupy for the time being in force.

 

Land grabbing issues

The concept of ‘omo onile’ and land grabbers arose as a result of the traditional owners of land selling same to more than one buyer and thereby creating confusion and committing fraud.

 

Even the law passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly prohibiting forceful takeover of lands has still not resolved the issue. I always advise my clients, consult a lawyer before you buy any land and especially in a city like Lagos where the issue of ‘omo onile’ and land grabbing is on the increase daily.

A lawyer will visit the relevant authorities and ensure there’s no encumbrance on the land to be purchased.

 

But, these clients do not want to pay lawyers their professional fees and end up in trouble with these swindlers.

 

Future ambition

 

I want to be a judge and especially a Justice of the Court of Appeal. I like appeal cases a whole lot and I crave to be among the Justices to decide one some day.

 

 

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