E - Law Reports for 2016/2017 Session.

Hey Guys! The judiciary has compiled the cases which were seen and decided on last session. Click on the link below and enjoy. 

LSS E-Law Report

TOMORROW’S SORE by Ugochuwku Ogbonna.

MIDDLE
There exist some excruciating moments when you wish tomorrow is never birthed. Your mind is tortured by flash-forwards of the mind wrenching pain you will inevitably undergo. I stand at the threshold of this unwanted break of dawn.

BEGINNING
Olanma, my sister had eloped with her lover, with what the whole village rumored a pregnancy. I thought I was the only person who enjoyed the turn of events, initially. I might have even suggested Ola's decision. My mother had been staging a performance of pain and disappointment, but Mama, Ola and I were in on this. Papa had forbidden us from relating with the boys from the village just after ours, and had in fact given our hands in marriage, to two older men, men who were old enough to father our mother. These men were short, burly and everything nauseating. Ola and I just turned sixteen and Papa had intended our ‘igbankwu’ six months from now. Ola defied Papa and went away with Onyeka from the very village we had been instructed against.

I am in many ways different from my twin sister save our identical physique and facial markings. Ola is quick, defiant and glib; I am reserved, docile and exude a lot of diplomacy.

Prior to Ola’s absconding, Papa and a host of dignified men in our village had been selected to occupy the office of ‘Red-Cap-Chiefs’. Now, this portfolio is accompanied with much dignity, respect and honor not excluding the mouth-watering benefits that abound. Hence, my sister’s action had dented the perfect record of Papa’s nomination.

‘We didn’t think this through’. The voice in my chest whispers.

It has been three days since Ola left and the Council of Chiefs have summoned Papa as his prospect of occupying this revered office is threatened. I peep through the window of our ‘obi’ and see him walking out of our compound. His face, smeared with pain mixed with disgust. He walks briskly, throwing his walking stick first as his weary legs straddle along.

I sit on my low wooden chair as Mama braids my thick black hair. My forehead rests on her laps. I drink in the scent of her pomade, mixed with the smell of ingredients, on her faded wrapper. I jostle to reality as she tightens the thread on my head. I hold the side of my head to relieve the pain and feel the guilt pour down my soul. An unusual conversation goes on between Mama and me. Not with our mouths, but our hearts sing and reply through the fastened rhythm of our pulses.

Just as the sun begins to bid us a good night, Papa walks in. His face holds no pretense of what might have transpired. I avoid his daunting, loving eyes and greet him. A frog nearby croaked annoyingly and it almost seemed like an outright display of mockery on us all.

‘Nna Nno’, I welcome him, bowing respectfully. He nods and walks straight into his obi. I look into mamas milky eyes, searching for clues, fully aware how powerfully they communicated through glances. She always bore the brunt of his wrath; and this time, he had given her a piercing, icy look.

Thirty minutes after his arrival, Papa calls me into his obi and offers me the warm nylon he fetched from his bag. I open it and begin to devour the roasted ‘Oka’ and ‘Ube’.
He comments on how pretty my neatly braided hair is. In spite of his pretentious smiles and chatter, I know something unpleasant looms. Papas love overwhelms me; thinking about this, I sit with him, holding my head in my palm until I fall asleep.

The sound of deep sobs intrudes my peaceful sleep. I open one eye, then the other and sit up with a start, hearing the sound of muffled crying and following the sound until I am just at the entrance to the obi. It is mama. Mama Chisorom, Njideka and Ujunwa serenade her. I scan the compound with my eyes, looking for Papa, and see him sitting with four other respected chiefs under the beautiful ‘Udala’ tree. There is ‘orji’ on the table before them. My heart skips a bit, I wonder if Ola is fine. I step out of the obi and pause, feeling as if a hundred eyes are looking at me. I run shaky fingers on quivering lips and force myself toward Papa. I had a feeling that I was going to be punished for intruding; I needed to know what punishment had been prescribed though. Now, I reach where Papa is sitting and acknowledge the chiefs who answer me averting their eyes and begin to excuse themselves one after the other until only Papa is left sitting. He pats the bench beside him for me to sit, and when I do he reaches out for my hand, holds it so tight that it causes me some discomfort. He suddenly looks ten years older and there is so much sorrow in his eyes; he's visibly struggling with something and I know it has to do with me, the way he's holding my hand says it all. I urge him repeatedly to tell me what is going on and after some resistance; he stands up and gestures toward his obi. Still holding my hand, he leads me into the obi.

The verdict concerning Papa’s appointment as a Red-Cap-Chief is that, I, Oluchi will be circumcised.

My mind is paralyzed, my heart is seared and my body is and would be broken. I am the redemptive soul, the sacrificial lamb, been led helplessly to the slaughter, for Papa. It was the tradition, our long esteemed culture and I could not run from it. It was rumored that my sister and I had the blood of our grandmother running through us. Mgborie, our grandmother, from the stories we heard, eloped with her teenage lover months after she was coerced into a marriage she abhorred. They said we looked ‘promiscuous’ and if I could not be curtailed, I would do worse than Ola did.

I looked at myself in the mirror. Of course, I had matured very early. I looked like a woman in her early twenties already, all thanks to the rotund and firm mounds of flesh that sat confidently on my chest. I looked down at my waist and could not help but appreciate the eight figure wrapped round my hips. Hot tears ran down my eyes as I took my last look at this version of me. I will not run away; I will stay for Papa. I will bear the pain and then heal.
Will I ever heal?

END

I blink my swollen eyes, and I am greeted by the pain that characterizes my waking these days, pain I never get used to. I look and see mama and Papa, standing at the door. Papa looks at me for a second, tries to hide the red-suede cap and bows his head in shame. Mama is gesturing to someone outside, I cannot see what she is communicating, but nothing matters now. I feel naked, soiled and broken. My legs are still quivering, amused by this form of affliction. My mouth is dry.

I try so hard to delete the memory from my head. It is still as fresh as the ‘ugwu’ leaves Mama uses to prepare my best soup. Even in my sleep, the whole scene is repeated, but at least I do not feel this terrible pain. I see the five huge women who stripped me off my femaleness. How they opened my legs to sear my soul, tore the perfection the Creator carved, destroyed my hidden strength, without fear or empathy. They reached in and sliced my dignity, peeling off the essence of my sexuality. I knew I must have ‘died’ in the process.

Papa loves me and so do I. My mind is playing tricks on me. Maybe, just maybe, I am a man. I would heal down there. Even if I did, I am sure my soul never would. The physical injury would heal, but I never would.

My mind is paralyzed, my heart is seared and my body is broken.

Igbo Words
Igbankwu- wine carrying (marriage ceremony)
Obi- Room/house
Nna Nno- Father, welcome
Oka- corn
Ube- pear
Udala- Cherry
Orji- refreshment
Ugwu- Pumpkin Leaves

DOWNLOAD The 2017 LSSABUAD Constitution

Download Here: 2017 LSS Constitution

Nigerians Before “Chibok Girls”: A Reminder By Olunlade Emmanuel Oluwasegun

The kidnap of over 200 girls in Chibok is perhaps the most devastating incident that has occurred since the civil war. The narrative of the event from the incident itself to its aftermath, discussion has been sardonic, depressing and aching. It is even just to say that the devilish nature of the Boko Haram insurgency did not gain so much corroboration before that event. This despotic act of these callous individuals is so visible, even to the blind and the resulting pain and wail of the Nigerian society, specifically the mothers of these girls affected, so audible even to the deaf.

LSS Report for the Activities of the First Semester 2016/17 Session: PART III

The Legislative Arm

 Let this be that;

The Legislative arm finally completed the amendment process to the constitution which started with the past administration. The constitution amendment procedure which has dragged on for over a year has finally been presented to the president for assent.

LSS Report for the Activities of the First Semester 2016/17 Session PART II

Part II seeks to show the activities of the Academic Committee, Finance Department and the Office of the PRO. Enjoy!

LSS Report for the Activities of the First Semester 2016/17 Session: PART 1

The First Semester, you would agree with us was a very eventful one with events such as the Chamber Week which comprised of the #21stCenturyLawyer talk where people such as Bolanle Austen-Peters (Producer, 93 Days: The Movie), Ope Olugasa (Managing Director, LawPavillion) and Akin Ajibola (Bola Ajibola & Co.) gave us a huge dose of inspiration and the Cultural Cocktail which was the talk of the campus for a long time sparking rumours of a copycat coming (they may try to beat it, they most likely will not).

In our quest to keep our members informed, we launch the LSS Report which seeks to give Students an overview of the activities of last semester and the prospects and objects of this new semester for the different branches and departments of the LSS. Enjoy!

A Second First Impression of Justice: Hon Justice (Dr.) Gladys Olubunmi Olateru-Olagbegi (rtd)

It’s the 1973/1974 session at the Nigerian Law School. One exceptional young lady just bagged the coveted Richard Akinjide prize in Law of Evidence. It’s only a first sign of the remarkable story that is to follow. Fast-forward. Our heroine has gone on to have a long and illustrious legal career, during which she added more than her fair share of merit awards to a very impressive trophy cabinet. Lawyer, Judge, Jurist, Luminary… this wonder woman matured not into any one of these alone, but all of them. Indeed, she is the essence of Justice – the blindfolded lady holding a sword and scales come to life. Let’s not forget that she’s honourable too. The Honourable Justice.