There exist a general saying that “where there is no law, a sin against the law does not exist”. However, there is no place in the vast universe we are present in that does not have a law that governs it. It could be an unwritten one or, better still, it has just not yet been discovered – if we were to consider science.
The law court is largely a body that encapsulates the legislative arm of government in a country and it helps to checkmate the executive and judiciary and vice versa. We have, in no particular order, the Supreme Court (the highest ranked in Nigeria), High Courts, Court of Appeals, Industrial Court etc.
The court is also a victim of one of the many stereotyped entities.
Locally speaking, you would come across some people who would actually pray they have nothing to do with court – or others such as the hospital, correctional centres etc. In as much as, these places are where uncool scenes occur, they still exist to maintain order in our lives through their respective sectors in security, health, etc.
Relative to the discussion here, have I been to a court before? Well, yes! Now, don’t look at me from the corner of your eye. I did not go in there for a criminal case whatsoever. But I was able to get some knowledge about law courts that very day. Before I go into the details of that, I would give the reason for my being at a court.
Apart from the fact that a court is basically a building, it could also be used to mean a whole establishment where different types of courts may be present. It was sometime in May this year when I was a beneficiary of a federal education scheme. Part of the documents to be sent back to the organizers was one that was used to ensure that all the details given were correct and no falsehood is present, and that needed to be done and/or signed at a law court. That was my first time planning to go to one. To be frank, I was already having that stereotypical thought what if I was mistaken for someone else..? It was as bad and funny as that
I had no other option than to go myself. And I did because I badly needed the proceedings from the scheme.
The direction to the court was quite easy to get and just a cab did the job of dropping me right in front of the court, here in Abeokuta. Upon stating my reason for being there, I was directed by the securities to the appropriate quarters. This later turned out to be the office of the secretary to a judge or so. I was asked to recite the content of the documents and then it was signed and stamped. And that was all. Well, after paying a meagre sum of money.
That was fast, you say! I had that same thought too. It was now a case similar to that what I ordered versus what I got. I envisaged some bureaucratic process that may require me to even come the next day. I was wrong. Before I left the premises, I fed my eyes to the environment and even overheard some court proceedings going on. I was actually sceptical about attending the court hearing even after one of the security men told me I could attend but before the judge was (seated) in court.
All in all, it was a good experience for me such that I have added “attending at least a court hearing” as part of my plans for 2023. I won’t be taking that stereotype from here anymore. The court is there to keep sanity in the system. I know that some things still exist there that may defeat some of the purposes but it still does not eliminate the crucial need for its continuous existence.