‘Discipline, Industry and Integrity Should be your Beacons’
I am the principal partner at Ikechukwu O. Odoemelam & Co, legal practitioners of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree from the University of London in 1985, I proceeded to the Nigerian Law School for the mandatory one year training culminating in my call to the Bar in 1986. Rather than commence practice immediately I enrolled at the Law Society of England & Wales when the plan to practice as Solicitor fell through. Thereafter, I commenced law practice at K. C. Nwankpa & Co. I later became an Associate at Awala, Alatan & Associates.
Have you had any challenges as a lawyer and if so what were the main challenges?
The Challenges in law practice are numerous and should be factored in just like those in one’s daily life. You have to plan the nature of your practice and the resources to do so. Because of the fused practice you can hardly see any lawyer talking or thinking about specialisation. So the challenge you face is that of general practitioners closely competing with one another. There are delays everywhere. Speed, if one is mobile depends on the traffic on the road. From the time it takes to get a means of transport, without describing how life-threatening some of them can be, to getting to the court either early or late only to note that the court is not going to sit after-all. Or that it sat but your case cannot be heard even if the court decides to stay another 24 hours! Assuming that your case is the one being heard, it cannot be faster than snail’s speed. Thank God the courts are now being digitalised. But it would still amount to building castles in the air if those operating the digital systems lack the necessary discipline and dexterity. What was your worst day as a lawyer? As a lawyer you never can say whether the worst day is behind you or yet ahead. However, from experience I thought that my worst day was on 5th December 1991 when I was detained at Area ‘f” Police Station on the orders of Justice Enitan Akande, then at High Court 14 Ikeja for contempt. The former Attorney-General & Commissioner of Justice, late Sam. Azuarah came to rescue me. Just as I thought that was bad enough, on the day I appeared before Justice J. O. Pedro of Ikeja High Court, Kehinde Sofola SAN of blessed memory was responding to greetings as he was coming into the court . Rather than respond to my compliments he asked me if what I was wearing (an ash coloured suit) was regulation dress? It was so sudden and unexpected that I could not respond to the question. Visibly angry he vowed to report me to the late F.R.A. Williams. As I guessed, he must have mistaken me for someone else in the chambers of the late eminent advocate. I was not an associate of that chambers!
What was your most memorable experience?
My most memorable experience appears flimsy but each time I ruminate about the life of a typical practising lawyer, that has excelled I become amused about the silly things we did before we gained all the experiences needed for success. My first court appearance was unaccompanied by the principal of the chambers who briefed me to seek for an adjourned date as he was appearing in another court. Part of the brief was to ask for costs ‘if the defense counsel did not come ‘. He had been absent on previous adjourned dates. The defense counsel was an eminent lawyer, Dr. Jaja Nwachukwu of blessed memory; he appeared and therefore there was no need to ask for costs. I asked for costs for his absence during the previous adjourned dates. Amidst bewilderment and mild irritation, the court advised me to take an adjournment.
Who has been most influential in your life?
I think parents exert the most influence in the life of every person, without whom aspirations and achievements would be nothing more than a dream. Legal education is a unique journey; only those who cherish and appreciate its content and the discipline that goes with it can support and raise your morale to get to its pinnacle. In this regard I thank Mr. Alfred Pearse Awala of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan who guided, supported and sponsored me to become a lawyer. Of course I would not forget colleagues , relations and well-wishers who through their generosity saw my survival and success. However, in times of ordeals and troubles, Gani Fawehinmi SAN of blessed memory influenced me. In such times I often asked: have I come close to a percentage of what he went through in the profession? Of course not. Why did you become a lawyer? I commenced a Chartered Secretary’s (ICSA) course before I read law intending to complete the final part later. I knew quite early that candidates for the post of Company Secretary/Administrator are required to be members of Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators or legal practitioners. So I chose to do law first because of the versatility of the qualification. Law is encompassing.
What would your advice be to anyone wanting a career in law?
For anyone wanting a career in law my advice would be, since the profession is called a noble one, obviously it is elevating no matter your background. And that means an alert that there are sacrifices to make. Above all practising law is like being sentenced to reading for life. Therefore like a sailor discipline, industry and integrity would be your beacons.
If you had not become a lawyer what would you have chosen?
Being a lawyer offers distinction, protection and security in the society. It is painful to think of anything other than law. However, since I had taken off to make Corporate Administration a career, I would have become one, and needed a voluminous knowledge of law to succeed. Where do you see yourself in ten years? The exact answer to that question is with God. However, in ten years I would have become an SAN. A tall order in every lawyers mind! I would also interact with and participate in the global civil society organisations. It would be an auspicious time to ensure that my experiences have been fully applied and felt in the legal profession and corporate world.