‘A Lawyer Must Embrace Integrity, Loyalty, Discipline and Hard Work’
Please, give a brief introduction of yourself
My name is Omosefe Ogheneovo Erhurhu, an indigene of Ovwor- Olomu, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. I am the Head of Chambers at Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates. I am a graduate of Madonna University, Okija in Anambra State, where I obtained my LL.B Degree in 2007. I attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, after which I was enrolled to practice Law as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme of Nigeria in November, 2008.
I started my legal career in Lokoja, Kogi State, where I did my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the law firm of A.O. Musa Esq., immediately after my call to Bar. I was sworn in as a Notary Public of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, in 2018. I am an Associate member of the Institute of Professional Manager and Administrators of Nigeria (IPMA). I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). I am the present General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Udu Branch, and a statutory member of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association 2018-2020. I am currently a Doctorial (Ph.D) student at the Delta State University, Oleh Campus. I am married with two children.
Have you had any challenges in your career as a Lawyer, and if so, what were the main challenges?
As a Lawyer, I have been faced with various challenges, but the most striking which I will mention, has to do with the challenge of “charging my fees as a young Lawyer”. I recall an incident where a client came into my office, and after taking her brief, I charged her N150,000 which was 10% of the consideration for the property. She looked at me and said, “you this small Lawyer you de charge 10%, senior Lawyers never charge me 10% since I de do Deed”. At this point, I politely asked her to leave my office. I had three of this type of incidents at regular intervals, and on each of these instances, I turned down the brief, since these clients seem to have pegged the cost of drafting a title document to N 20,000.00, until I sought for advice from a very senior Lawyer on how to deal with such clients. I lost a number of clients, at that stage of my practice, but it was an experience I do not regret, to date.
Again, there was the challenge of dealing with clients, who consider themselves to be professional litigants. They always want you to do their cases, the way they feel it should be done. When such situations rise, I recall the advice I received from my boss, late Ballantyrne Ugege Esq (may his soul continue to rest in peace) that: “A Lawyer should never allow a client dictate to him how to conduct his case, no matter who the client is; as a Lawyer is the master of his case”.
What do you consider to be, your worst day as a Lawyer?
My worst day as a Lawyer, was a day that I made the mistake of taking a fellow colleague, to see the Vendor of a property. My colleague asked me if I knew the owner of a particular property, that his client was interested in. Since I was dealing with a colleague uberima fides; I felt we could handle the deal together. Unfortunately, since the day I introduced my colleague to the Vendor, he seldom takes my calls and when he does, he would tell me that, he is protecting my interest. After a long while, my colleague told me his client didn’t go for the property again. I finally contacted the Vendor, who informed me that my client had concluded the transaction with him, and the property had been sold. My colleague sidelined me from the transaction, and I felt really terrible.
What has been your most memorable experience as a Lawyer, so far?
I have had couple of memorable experiences as a Lawyer to date, but permit me to make reference to my experience as a corps member once again. I like sharing those experiences because they were my foundation, and like the Bible says “Do not despise the days of your little beginning”. I appeared before the Chief Judge of
Kogi State, Hon. Justice Ajanah, during my time as a young Lawyer, in a criminal matter. The Director of Public Prosecution was the opposing party, in the matter. After the Court session, I went back to the office, and even before I could tell my boss how the case went, he started praising me. He told me that, the Chief Judge had called him to tell him how brilliant I performed. I had triple of my appearance fees from my boss, that day.
Who has been most influential in your life?
Permit me to make a divide in my response to this; as a lawyer and as an individual. As a lawyer, I have few persons who has influenced in my life; Hon. Justice Kueju- Bola, Hon. Justice C.E. Achilefu, His Excellency Prof. A.A. Utuama SAN, Ayo Asala SAN, O.I. Mowoe Esq. Ballantyrne Ugege of Blessed memory and M.T. Musa Esq.
Why did you become a Lawyer?
I became a Lawyer, as a result of my distaste for oppression.
What would be your advice to anyone wanting a career in law?
A career in law is rewarding in all its ramifications, but you must first embrace integrity, loyalty, discipline and hard work, to succeed.
If you had not become a Lawyer, what other career would you have chosen?
If I had not become a Lawyer, I would have become an Administrator.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I should be a Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.