‘A Lawyer Knows Something About Everything’
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My name is Tolu Babaleye. I was called to the Nigerian Bar on September 28, 2009. I graduated from Ondo State University, Ado Ekiti on December 10, 1997. I did the compulsory NYSC in Abuja, at the Law office of Sam Ologunorisa, SAN & Co., where I was subsequently retained as a Junior Counsel from where I rose to the position of Head of Chambers in 2003.
I established Tolu Babaleye & Co. (Solution Chamber) on May 2, 2004 with Head Office in Abuja and a branch in Akungba- Akoko, a University town in Ondo State. I have practiced and appeared in all cadres and hierarchy of courts in Nigeria in the last 19 years, and I am still in active practice of Law.
I left practice for one year and two months, to serve my people at the Local Government level as Executive Chairman of Akoko South West Local Government in Ondo State from December, 2007 to February, 2009.
I was part of the legal team in the case of Hon. Sunday Abegunde v The Ondo State House of Assembly & 11 Ors (2015) 4-5 SC PT1 P1, which is now the Locus Classicus on issue of cross-carpeting from one Political Party to another, without crisis in one’s Party in Nigeria. I appeared for the 5th and 7th Respondents in that matter. Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN appeared for the Appellant whereas Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN (Then AG of Ondo State) appeared for the 1-4th Respondents.
I am a Human Rights Activist and advocate of a better society. I am a quintessential Bar man. I belong to Nigerian Bar Association (Unity Bar) Abuja branch. I was former Secretary of Judiciary Committee, a co-opted member of Elders Committee of NBA Abuja, and also a former NEC member of NBA National.
I have served in many Local Organising Committees of NBA, including organising Pan Africa Lawyers Union Conference in Abuja in 2015 and African Bar Leaders Conference in Lagos in 2016.
I was part of the Nigerian Bar Association Legal Services Trade Mission to Netherlands in February, 2016. I am the Chairman of Board of Trustees of Dynamic Patriotic Citizens Foundation, an NGO, and the National PRO of Vehicle Owners Association of Nigeria.
I am married with children.
Have you had any challenges in your carrier as a Lawyer, and if so, what were the main challenges?
Yes, I have had many challenges as a Legal Practitioner in litigation, ranging from courts not delivering ruling on interlocutory applications, and at times, court not delivering judgement after conclusion of hearing and adoption of Written Addresses.
I am also faced with challenges of not being able to execute Court judgements, especially when it is against Government. There is this obnoxious rule of seeking the consent of Attorney- General, to execute a judgement against Government, where the AG himself is a party to the suit in which the court has given judgement against. That law is a serious impediment and a clog in the wheel of progress of justice.
Another serious challenge, is this Treasury Single Account (TSA). It was easy when Government Ministries, Agencies, Parastatals and Departments still kept money in accounts domiciled with Commercial Banks and one could easily garnishee those accounts. With this era of TSA, it has become very difficult to get the account details of any of the Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals for the purpose of execution of court judgements. This is not good for the justice system, and it is high time for the Attorney-General of the Federation does something about this antediluvian and archaic system, inherited from the British Colonial Masters.
What was your worst day as a Lawyer? My worst day as a Lawyer, was the day I got to court to discover that the process filed by us was not attested to by the Commissioner for Oaths, due to overzealousness and inadvertence of one of my juniors in Chambers, and I had to slug it out with a Senior Advocate on the other side.
What was your most memorable experience as a Lawyer?
My most memorable experience as a Lawyer, was the day I got judgement against the former FCT Minister, who revoked the land of my client and gave it to his friend. The Court did not only return the land to my client, but also berated the system and this has changed the face of land administration in Abuja. It took almost 5 years to do the matter but the result was what the waiting.
Who has been most influential person in your life?
The most influential people in my life, are my parents. They never had any formal education, but yet trained me to become a Lawyer. They shaped my life, and told me to always assist
people using the law. In the Legal profession, the most influential person in my life is Hon. Justice Bode Adegbehingbe of Ondo State High Court, a very brilliant jurist. He has always encouraged me to be focused on the legal profession, and stop distracting myself playing politics.
Why did you become a Lawyer? I became a Lawyer by providence, because God wanted me to be. I was a student of History, but finally made up my mind to read Law the day I encountered Dr. Fredick Faseun, who came University Campus to address us during the struggle against military rule. My encounter with him changed my perception, and I came to the realisation that the only profession that can give me satisfaction and fit into my views about life, was the Legal Profession. I decided to write another JAMB, and was eventually admitted by Professor Akin Oyebode, who gave me the best Legal Education that money can buy anywhere in the world.
What would be your advice, to anyone wanting a career in Law?
The Profession is very versatile and there is no limit to what you can do as a Lawyer. As a Lawyer, you know something about everything, and that is why you are a Learned. I advice anyone wanting a carrier in Law, to be focused and be sure of the type of Lawyer he wants to become.
If you had not become a Lawyer, what career would you have chosen?
I would have become a Professor of History and a Motivational Speaker.
Where do you see yourself in ten years? My future belongs to God and I leave everything to him to decide while I work towards my goal of becoming one of the best Lawyers and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. I want to become a Peace Ambassador. I will also like to become a Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, as a means of contributing my quota to peace in the world.