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Going Down The Memory Lane:
*On The Practice Of The Law: Even In _Those Days_...*


I recall this true life story during the time the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo (of blessed memory) was holding sway as the Premier of Western Region.

It goes thus:-
The government of Western Region had just acquired land at Idi-Ose for the use of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Meanwhile some sections of the land-owning family who were aggrieved with compensation paid by the government threatened to go to court. Chief Ladoke Akintola of blessed memory reported their threat to Awo and suggested that the matter be resolved without recourse to litigation.

Awo disagreed with SLA and boasted that the government had solid legal team which composed of FRA Williams (an authority on Civil Procedure), Fani-Kayode (the best lawyer in Constitutional Law) and Bode Thomas (versatile in Commercial Law). To Awo, the land owning family's threat is of no moment

SLA retorted and told Awo in (Yoruba language) - "My Leader (Awo), E fura o. Looto 'Timi mo Procedure. Mo gba pe Oba ni Fani ninu Constitution, beeni Thomas l'oga ninu Commercial ati Evidence o.
Sugbon awon family ti a n so yi ti gba TOS Benson. Eyin naa si mo pe TOS mo Ademola o."

Awo got the gist and opted for settlement because the Presiding Judge then was Adetokunbo Ademola a bosom pal of TOS Benson.

May the souls of all them rest in perfect peace.....

As it was then, so it is now...
While the *brilliant Lawyer* knows the Law, the *successful Lawyer* strives to "know" the Judge.
Lo ba tan.

*Eni m'o Adajo l'o Mo Law*
(SLA)