Uhmmm Lawyers …
Many Nigerians I have been opportune to interact
with have over the years, have varying take about the legal profession,
especially about the way they view lawyers. The emotions expressed have been
hilarious, some of disdain, absurd, complementary, sarcastic and some, very
indifferent. One feedback that still gets me laughing is this one, “lawyers
talk too many confusing grammar”. (Pardon me, I may “blow” some in this piece
too. Lol!) Curiously, many Nigerians are totally clueless about the work of a
lawyer. I guess this explains the general lukewarm attitude towards lawyers.
However, experience have shown that it would do
a lot of good if Nigerians awake from this intellectual slumber and embrace
the activities of legal practitioners in their everyday life interactions. In
fact, more than ever before, given the prevailing the ever growing
socio-political-economic society we live in, the time has come for citizens
(and even non-citizens) to arm themselves with the benefits of the knowledge of
the law by befriending lawyers and other practitioners of the law. Ignorance of
the law is old-fashioned and should be discarded.
So, why do you need a lawyer? What’s so special
about them anyway? Who stands to benefit from the work of a lawyer? Are they
really good friends to keep? Does it make any sense to have them around?
Straightaway, let me be the first to tell you
that it’s extremely important to have a lawyer in present day Nigeria.
Whether you like this bitter truth or not you need to get a lawyer, especially
in areas of rights, businesses, and family. I will inundate you with some of
the reasons that are ringing in my head now.
One. For your personal civil protection. Chapter
IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, has laid out
some very fundamental rights that are in consonance with the African Charter on
People’s Rights and other related international treaties. These rights are
sacrosanct and must be respected by all, irrespective of age, status, political
office, creed, parental or financial background, marital posture, work
experience or any other societal stereotype one may hold; these rights are
final and cannot be altered. Its just so unfortunate that many Nigerians fall
victim of unlawful police intimidation/harassment, employers’ abuses and work
hazards, spousal/domestic violence, infants/children rape, and so many other
rights abuse. These incidents happen on a daily basis. This is where a lawyer
comes in. Such a person, (I mean a lawyer), would ‘stand and fight’ for the
protection of these rights I mentioned and see to it that compensation,
protection or recompense is made in favour of the victim.
Two. Seamless business transactions. Again, this
is one area of life Nigerians must quickly get a lawyer before embarking on any
promising business venture. Businesses must at all times involve crossing the
T’s and dotting the I’s. All terms and agreed conditions must be properly spelt
out in black and white for all parties to sign to. Any business that does not
involve documents is a sure accident waiting to happen! There are vital rules
that all business-minded people must abide to in other not to run into murky
waters when it eventually comes to the bottom-line (profit.). A lawyer would
help with this. Certain issues pertaining to business or company registrations,
copyrights, patents, taxes, excise duties, etc, you need a lawyer to cut
through them.
Three. Family life. This is one area that most
Nigerians just brush aside and claim "it’s not a lawyer’s business".
But unfortunately, they soon realize their mistakes, sometimes too late. One
example that jumps at me is the celebration of marriages. Couples are
ill-advised by their ‘Fathers-in-the-lord’ and Imams, that its fine to
solemnize their weddings on very odd days that are not recognize under the law,
only to realize in that face of marital disputes, that their marriages were
void from the word go. Issues of custody of the children of the marriage in
cases of divorce is another place many Nigerians miss it. The most
disheartening is when one of the spouses dies and members of the extended
family come knocking with all sorts of claims and “rights”. Oh the issues
become complicated! Every sensible Nigerian man and woman must engage the
services of a lawyer when their love is still hot, in other to avoid
stories-that-touch.
There are so many areas of life that one may be
tempted to point out but these are the most important. That is not to say
matters of Landlord and Tenant, real estate, insurance, medical negligence,
etc., are any less important. (I promise that we would look at other areas of
law in more details in the coming weeks.) But the crux of the matter is that
every Nigerian must engage the services of a lawyer at every given important
stage of life. It makes a lot of Nigerian sense.
Till next time … Ciao!
Alice O. Odibo is a legal practitioner and
the principal partner at Odibo O. A. Co., a firm of legal practitioners & solicitors.
She is a graduate of University of Benin, Alice has 8 years experience in corporate and criminal litigation practice. She
resides in Lagos.
Contact details. 08057474161. aliceodibo@yahoo.com BB:33513747.
1 comment:
I had a lawyer once for an issue, and he was too petty and always demanding money for this, money for that. I thought when you charge a client, all his expenses are covered. Then he would ask for money for typing, money for sending someone to deliver a package, money for CTC, money for errands,...it was just so annoying. And unfortunately I thought he would be sincere with what I owe as balance as it spread over a years period and I lost some records and I paid by cash rather than transfers, I found my balance was always like still 70% which didn't make sense. Worst of all he is so insultive and makes threats to abandon then case and stuffs. At a point I felt like he should just die by an act of God. I hated lawyers since then. To me, till I see a different lawyer with better ethics and attitude, I would not like lawyers.
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