Tales of Blessedlandnia: Keys to Justice and National Rebirth

By Akin Adewale

The book is a fiction; it deals with Legal, political, economic and social ills plaguing most developing countries that are still grappling with various developmental challenges.
The book highlights and satirizes all these ills and challenges facing these countries and proffer solutions to some of them.
There are some developing countries especially in Africa where there is failure of leadership. This fuels ethnic, religious and socials upheavals which lead to political instability and even wars.
In some of these countries, there is corruption of monumental proportion which slows down economic development and this may eventually lead to other social problems such as poverty, chaos, anarchy etc.
The book politely and humorously point out these problems and the way forward. Corruption is a global problem but the book also propounds a theory that corruption in large scale by a political leadership in any country may lead to economic problem that could cause extermination of the poor masses gradually through hunger, preventable and curable diseases and that such corruption should be treated as massocide and as crime against humanity by the UNO.
The book also highlights the problem of unsuitability of some political arrangement of some developing countries that is also responsible for the political, social and economic problems plaguing them; and the need to have national dialogue to arrive at the best political arrangement which is indeed the foundation to build on. The outcome of such national dialogue should be implemented and use to draft a new constitution.
The book humorously highlights the flight of integrity from some of these developing countries due to the bad example from leadership. When corruption is the order of the day and there is impunity in that no one is punished even when caught, it makes many people to join the bandwagon and hell is then let loose on the society.
Some lawyers when well paid by corrupt officials; they would do all within their powers and explore legal loopholes and processes to either ensure that such cases drag to eternity in law courts or are never heard. Due to the legal procedure that presume an accused person innocent until convicted in law courts, the corrupt official going through trial in court would be free to pursue his/her political ambition, get elected into any political office and acquire more money to frustrate his/her trial in law court. This book highlights the foregoing too.
The book highlights the social ills plaguing many developing countries which reduce most human beings to subsistence level and in such situation; higher human ideals are sacrificed on altar of expediency to survive. Even the zeal to work hard and excel wane in many people as the economic climate favours those with political powers and their cohorts; in such a situation everyone struggles to get to political power through any means. It becomes a do or die affair.
The book will appeal to the public at large especially those who are interested in finding solutions to the problems affecting the developing countries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Sep 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496979919

Akin Adewale

The author was born in Ipe Akoko, Akoko South East Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. He attended Ipe High School, Ipe Akoko and from there proceeded to University of Jos, Nigeria for his bachelor degree in Law. He graduated and attended Nigerian Law, School, Lagos and was called to Bar in October, 1987. He worked briefly in Ondo State Ministry of Justice after his National Youth Service Program, and left the Ministry voluntarily in March, 1990. He went into Private Legal Practice in 1990 and has been practising as a Barrister & Solicitor in Abuja, the political Capital City of Nigeria. He also holds a Master degree in Law from University of Jos, Nigeria. He is married to Mrs. Folashade Akin Adewale and they are blessed with children.

Book preview

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T he principal partner of Rayland & Co, Mr. Rayland was in Chambers watching his 45" plasma T.V and waiting for the arrival of Mrs. Dumpty a client who was being investigated by police for trafficking of some young girls to Italy for prostitution. His appointment with Mrs. Dumpty was for 4 pm local time and it was about 15 minutes to the appointed time.

From the T.V, the president was addressing the nation on the evils of human trafficking …my government will not tolerate this evil whereby our girls who constitute a substantial percentage of our work force in this Country are being deceived by some evil men and women about juicy jobs in Italy only to end up being sold into prostitution while their sponsors are smiling to the Banks. These sponsors are evil people as they will not allow their own children to be engaged in such business. This can be likened to a second slavery experience for us as Africans. My government will not tolerate this heinous crime. We will pursue the traffickers; we will chase them out of business and ensure that they are put behind bars. We will oil the machinery of justice in this Country to ensure quick delivery of justice. We will equip our law enforcement agencies; especially the police and immigration personnel to deal with this crime …

Rayland's secretary entered to inform him of the presence of Mrs. Dumpty at the reception. Ah let her come in immediately, was Rayland's response. Madam you are welcome and it is my pleasure to have you here just as the president is addressing the nation on the evils of human trafficking. You may wish to listen to his address on T.V.

My dependable Lawyer, Mrs. Dumpty spoke, "I am not here to listen to the president's address. In fact I asked my driver to switch off the radio on my way here when I heard him talking about evils of human trafficking. The problem with our president is that he likes to listen only to himself; he does not listen to others' point of view which is the beauty of democracy. The president is spoiling business for many of us with so many of his wars on the entrenched ways we do things here.

Through our business, we are empowering many people, families and even communities. Remember Miss Benny whose parents gave me consent to send to Italy over a year ago; her parents just left my home before I came to meet you. The parents were so grateful for what I did for them. They told me that out of the money their daughter sent home, they have built a modest bungalow in their village and are able to pay the school fees of their other children. The fact is that through our business we are empowering people and the president does not understand."

Mr. Rayland, continued Mrs. Dumpty while the counsel was attentive, I am bothered about the present investigation. It is becoming very serious. Our usual contact in the police is finding it very difficult to assist us now. His excuse is that the president's posture is making it very difficult to do a shoddy investigation and that their the States Commission of Police wants to impress the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the president by getting at least a scape goat who will be prosecuted and convicted in court. You know by this, the IGP would impress the president that he is doing his job.

But Madam, Mr. Rayland interrupted her, you and others have been paying the man very well. Or is our contact no more delivering the message?. He does Mr. Rayland but you know this people if they are properly monitored and they know the seriousness of the government in power in fighting a particular crime, they would go all out to fish out the perpetrators of such crime whether they are settled or not. Remember Mr. Mooney, that 419 kingpin who was always left off the hook over 419 exploits in the past is now in Kora prison due to the posture of the present president to fight 419 crime. With this president, there is no hiding place for 419ners again; their assets are being confiscated. The president is coming hard against those of us he has labeled as human traffickers. I may end up in jail and my assets confiscated. I am doing a legitimate business, I am empowering people and the so called victims of our crime are very happy with us.

We are not 419ners who always ruin their victims economically and sow sorrow in their lives; ours is diametrically opposite so I cannot understand the zeal of the president in fighting us. It is not a second slavery as the president is claiming. The so-called victims are not forced to go to Italy. Indeed they beg us to be given the opportunity to go. They are indeed ready to do anything to enable us give them the opportunity to travel to Italy. The president should understand that in slavery, the victims were forced against their will and subjected to inhuman treatments and conditions in sugar cane plantations and without payment. The two are not comparable at all. Those girls who travelled to Italy went there to have fun and got good payment in return'." Mrs. Dumpty added.

Mr. Rayland was quite attentive while listening to Mrs. Dumpty's arguments about her trade and why they should be left alone to operate unhindered before he finally proffered his opinion on the subject matter. Madam you know before the president came to power, the image of our country has gone down below zero and being the giant of Africa and the hope of the Blackman the world over, he believes that human trafficking of our girls to Italy is one of those things that is giving us a very bad name. said Rayland.

It is also the president's belief that prostitution promotes the spread of HIV which has become a health problem in the Country. But madam, I do not believe in the president's war against your trade and I will do my best to frustrate his efforts. Count on me madam that as long as I practise this legal profession and you remain my client, you will not go to jail and you will not lose any of your properties to the state. If our contact in the police cannot help us and you are eventually charged to court for the offence, have faith in me, judgement will never be delivered in the case until the president is out of office. I strongly believe that the next president will tread more softly in this war against your trade. I assure you, eat and do not lose your sleep over this matter. Please regain your peace of mind. Mr. Rayland said.

Mr. Rayland are you saying that even if I am charged to court tomorrow the case will not end in four years time knowing that the president still has four years to the end of his tenure? Mrs. Dumpty asked. Madam answered Mr. Rayland I assure you that even if it still remains six years to the end of the president's tenure, the case will still be dragging on in court with out judgement being delivered. Madam by the time I finish with the court your case will become a locus classicus on ways and means of seeking adjournments to frustrate the conclusion of a case. There will be interlocutory appeals if our applications for adjournments are eventually refused, there will be application for stay of proceedings etc. We will drag our interlocutory applications up to Supreme Court no matter how frivolous they may appear and by the time we are through it will be over five years

Mr. Rayland, what if while you are going through your legal dribbling my bail is refused, then I will be in jail throughout the period? Madam, forget it. Your offence is a bail-able one and section 35 of 1999 constitution presumes you to be innocent until the contrary is proved. I assure you that once you are on bail the matter is over. However, if you are not given bail, we can always procure medical report that you are suffering from dinodino influenza that cannot be treated in our Country to convince the judge to release you on bail then you can travel to Italy to have the ailment treated. Madam, relax by the time it is over, you will know why people call me miracle worker in this profession.

Mr. Rayland my heart was heavy when I was coming to meet you over this problem but with your re-assuring words I am comforted. I now have my peace to fight the battle ahead. The only thing is to go and get real money ready to fight the legal battle ahead; as you know I am not a miser, I pay good money to make you happy so that you can render your best service to me. Mrs. Dumpty said.

Madam I trust you. I will do everything for you; even I will sacrifice our professional ethics in my service for you. Your financial largesse has contributed immensely to the financial comfort I am enjoying now which in no small measure makes the Judges to respect me so much. Mr. Rayland said with a smile.

With these parting words, Mrs. Dumpty left Mr. Rayland's Chambers to see the contact man assisting them to kill the police investigation into human trafficking case against her.

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M r. Rayland was in court to defend Mr. Rova the 419 kingpin who was charged for duping Miss Gullible of the sum of one hundred thousand dollars.

The fact of the case was that Miss Gullible who was living a life of loneliness in Britain needed a husband and in her desperation had pasted her picture and bio data on the internet asking that any man either in Africa or Europe who was single and ready to marry her should contact her.

Mr. Rova who is an expert in the game of cheating spinsters under the pretence of marrying them saw another golden opportunity to dupe yet another victim when he saw Miss Gullible’s E-mail address and the message there. Mr. Rova immediately contacted Miss Gullible expressing his desire to marry her immediately. One thing led to another and before Miss Gullible could realize that she had fallen into the hand of a notorious 419ner in the Country, she had been duped of $100,000. Thanks to the Crime Commission which has been chasing 419ners within the Country, Mr. Rova was arrested, charged to court and was having his first day in court with Mr. Rayland as his counsel.

Mr. Rova confessed committing the crime to his lawyer Mr. Rayland. In the pre-trial conference in Rayland Chambers, faced with the clear evidence on ground in the proof of evidence served on Mr. Rayland by the prosecution, coupled with Mr. Rova's confession, a junior counsel in Rayland's Chambers had advised that the best way was for their client to plead guilty while plea-bargaining would be negotiated with the prosecution so that justice can be done speedily and with lighter sentence for the accused.

Mr. Rayland was furious with the junior counsel's suggestion of plea-bargaining as that was completely anathema to his own doctrine of getting the client off the hook at all cost. The junior counsel in his cool and gentle manner of approach had explained to his senior that his advice was borne out of his duty to the client, the court, and even the society. However he was overruled by Mr. Rayland whose decision in this type of matter was always final.

The Chambers eventually agreed that Mr. Rova would not plead guilty and that his defence in court would be two pronged. The first would be that the Act establishing the Crime Commission was wrongly and illegally passed by the National Assembly and that Miss Gullible was on a mission of vendetta haven being jilted by Mr. Rova so was lying to have her erstwhile lover jailed. It was also resolved that these two options would be pursued with vigour and seriousness.

The first day in court for Mr. Rova was not that pleasant because after he had pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, his counsel's oral application for bail was rejected. However, this did not dampen the enthusiasm of his counsel Mr. Rayland who assured him that bail would still be granted and that he would bring formal application for bail before the next adjourned date.

Meanwhile Mr. Rova was sent to prison from the court while the case was adjourned for over thirty days before the application for bail would be heard. In the same court that day, Mr. Rova witnessed another case on all fours with his. The accused was arraigned and after the charges were read to him, he pleaded guilty. There and then his counsel after the conviction of the accused and before the sentence entered into allocutus. At the end of the day the convict was given a light sentence with admonition to seek God and pursue legitimate business after serving his term in prison.

Mr. Rova was thoroughly confused about the whole situation he was in. He was happy for the accused who was being led into prison to serve his light sentence. He believed in crime and punishment, that once an offender is caught he must be punished no matter how light the punishment may be. But he could not understand why his counsel, Mr. Rayland did not give the option of plea-bargaining a thought instead of going through a prolonged tortuous trial which might still end in conviction.

Mr. Rova started seeking different reasons for Mr. Rayland's action. Could it be because every day the case would come up in court he would pay the counsel that he wanted the case to drag so that he could make more money in the process or his counsel indeed had magic wand to get him off the hook? But how could he get him off the hook with the evidence on ground? Miss Gullible was even in court on the first day as she was ready for the trial as all his threats could not dissuade her to keep off. The $100,000 he duped the victim had even been recovered by the Crime Commission and it was even going to be used as exhibit in court.

After many years of active service in cheating within and outside the Country, Mr. Rova had become a man with his hat full of tricks, he may has well be termed pocket Lawyer.' Indeed he had been acquitted of many 419 charges in the past and his tricks then included threatening the victims to stay away from court so as not to be ridiculed. He remembered the case of General Scandall who he duped of $10,000,000.

General Scandall had reported the matter to the then head of the Police Force who promptly sent his men in charge of Anti-Fraud to arrest Mr. Rova. At the Police station, after the usual rub my back, I rub yours, the story changed. The officers promptly took Mr. Rova's statement that he was contracted by General Scandall to procure arms to overthrow the Government and that the payment of $10,000,000 was just a deposit. The officers had confronted the General with this statement and the General knowing the game the officers were playing with the accused had quietly dropped his complaint. Mr. Rova parted with half of the loot to the police men, it was still a cool deal as that closed the case for ever.

However, with the way things were going in the country, Mr. Rova, knew too well that things had changed. The Government was not ready to tolerate the antics of crooks any more and had let loose the Crime Commission on them. The Crime Commission were unlike the Police he knew how to deal with in and out. This was indeed a pay back time and at his age, if his counsel had allowed him to plead guilty and get away with light sentence, he would spend his short term in prison come out a changed man and find legitimate job to do. He may even turn out to be in the vanguard of those fighting against this crime and turn many of his fellows to a crime free life. But his counsel by his present strategy of going through the whole gamut of trial is postponing the evil day thereby delaying his desire to lead a life of rectitude, Mr. Rova thought to himself.

The second day in court soon came and Mr. Rova was again in the dock. His counsel was at the Bar arguing the motion for bail. The affidavit filed by Mr. Ryland contained the following depositions: -

1. That the Applicant has a clean record and has never been involved in any similar case in the past.

2. That the Applicant if granted bail would be present throughout his trial.

3. That the Applicant if granted bail would not commit any other offence etc.

In making the above depositions in the affidavit, the junior counsel in Mr. Rayland's chambers reminded his principal, Mr. Rayland of the falsehood of the depositions especially paragraphs 1 and 2. He reminded his principal that Mr. Rova had about two years ago duped a foreigner of $400,000 and that the case could not proceed because the same Mr. Rova jumped bail and indeed bench warrant was ordered for his arrest by the trial Judge.

Mr. Rayland could nonetheless be persuaded by his junior in Chambers not to sign the affidavit as the deponent as same would amount to perjury. He went ahead to sign it stating that in our beloved country, records of offenders are not kept and no one was ever convicted of the offence of perjury.

However, to the chagrin of Mr. Rayland, the prosecution deposed to a counter affidavit stating as follows: -

1. That paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Applicant's Affidavit are not true.

2. That the Applicant was arraigned for offence of cheating one Miss Doll of $400,000 and the case was before Federal High court presided over by Justice Right.

3. That the Applicant was granted bail by the court but he jumped bail.

4. That bench warrant was issued for the arrest of the Applicant in that court. The certified true copy of the charge in State. v. Mr. Rova is attached herein as Exhibit A while the Bench warrant is attached as Exhibit B.

5. That Mr. Rayland also represented the Applicant in that case".

Despite the foregoing Mr. Rayland was unperturbed as he still appeared in court and argued the motion for bail as if his whole life depended on it.

His argument was puerile and unconvincing. Even deep in his mind he knew that based on the facts before the court even if the presiding judge were to be his wife, the application would not be granted. Even his client Mr. Rova knew that his counsel was only acting like a court jester on that day and the small respect he had for him evaporated there and then.

In the course of the argument for bail, the Judge had to put Mr. Rayland to task about the previous case he also handled for Mr. Rova. Mr. Rayland is it true that Mr. Rova had a similar case before my learned brother? To this question, Mr. Rayland was not too sure; he would need time to find out. Mr. Rayland continued the judge, what I am saying is whether you represented Mr. Rova in a similar case involving $400,000 for which your client jumped bail.

My lord I have many of these cases and the names of some of these clients sound alike, I would need time to find out he replied.

Mr. Rayland, the judge spoke, you better find out on time because it would amount to perjury if the answers to my questions are in the affirmative, more so that you are the deponent in this affidavit. We in the bench have a duty to expose this type of acts from counsel if for nothing else but to restore the dignity and respect this noble profession commanded in the past. We are not ready to cover up this type of practice anymore no matter your age and status at the Bar.

To this Mr. Rayland responded that all his life as a Lawyer he has always upheld the ethics of his profession and he would continue to do so.

At the end, the motion for bail was refused and Mr. Rova continued as an awaiting trial person in Prison while the case dragged on endlessly.

There was another pretrial conference by counsel in Mr. Rayland's chambers on how best to handle the defence of Mr. Rova after the prosecution had closed their case as the no case submission was dismissed by the court.

Gentlemen, Mr. Rayland addressed his colleagues, I believe the best way to get our client off the hook is to apply to court that the Act establishing the Crime Commission was not properly enacted in that due process was not followed. Also some sections of the Act offend some provisions of the 1999 constitution and should then be declared void.

Mr. Dove, a junior in Mr. Rayland's chamber who always holds contrary opinion in a matter of this nature chipped in, 'Sir, it is my opinion that once a law, an Act of parliament is passed and assented to by the president, it is not the duty of the court to enquire to its validity unless where it conflicts with the constitution of the country. The duty of the courts among others, I believe is to interpret the law before it and Sir, if I may ask, what makes the Act of the Crime Commission invalid?"

Mr. Dove, it is good I teach you what we call real legal practice in our country said Mr. Rayland as he began to lecture him. Mr. Dove, your father, a respected eminent gentleman brought you to my Chambers for pupilage, because he knew how successful I am in legal practice. That was why he did not take you to any Lawyer down town and it is my duty to teach you and you have to learn so that I would not disappoint your father. However, from the way you are going about it, you may end up a pauper. You have to learn and learn fast enough from this Chambers and be very successful or you change to another profession, concluded Mr. Rayland.

Sir, I am sorry, responded Mr. Dove, I love this legal profession so much that I took my time in settling for it, 'I would rather be idle for the rest of my life than change to another profession. I have always wanted to be like Lord Denning or other eminent jurists or advocates those that will remain immortal than having the whole wealth that is crudely and primitively acquired. Such wealth stinks just like their owners. I am sorry I will like to learn and fast too so that I can be like the role model I mentioned earlier.

Then if you want to Mr. Rayland spoke, better listen and listen very well to my words of advice on this issue. Here in our Country, what matters is money. Money is the beginning and the end and woe betide you if you fail to acquire it. How you acquire it does not matter. You can rob, you can steal, you can do anything under the sun to get it, but what matters is just get it. Dove my boy, we respect your father so much because of his wealth and it will be better for you to surpass him in wealth and you can only do this by learning from me. Are you not proud of me and my practice? See my Chambers, look at the Law Reports and state of the art equipment. Look at the Cars and designers' gold wrist watches etc, be wise my boy and learn.

Sir, I want to be rich and successful in this profession and I believe one can still achieve both through hard work, good luck coupled with integrity, Mr. Dove cut in.

You are talking of an ideal situation my learned friend. That was possible some years back but now things are so unwieldy' continued Mr. Rayland; here and now you have to excel through the wealth you acquire to be known. In the past, Judges looked at the comportment of counsel appearing before them, their integrity and the totality of their character and could then be recommended for elevation but now you need to be seen and lobby whenever you want one thing or the other that could have naturally come to you. These days you don't stoop to conquer, that was for Shakespeare’s era. These days you fight, you lobby, you go out of your way to get anything. Things have changed and you need to change with time".

After the long lecture, Mr. Rayland finally answered the question on why the Act establishing the Crime Commission should be declared invalid. Mr. Dove, I learnt that on the day the National Assembly passed into Law the bill for the establishment of the Crime Commission the mace was not placed on the table in its proper position. It was not left lying on the table rather the Sergeant at Arms held it standing by the wall of the Senate Chambers. I have witnesses who will testify to this. The procedure was completely wrong and it is enough to invalidate the Act concluded Mr. Rayland.

With this answer, Mr. Rayland dismissed Mr. Dove who then retired to his office. He pondered over the lecture he just received from his principal in Chambers. He remembered Mr. Intel an eminent counsel in town who has through his legal practice assisted so many oppressed people in the society. He knew how successful Mr. Intel was and how he was respected by his friends and foes alike. Mr. Dove also pondered over the success of Mr. Intel and wondered whether it was because he has been in practice when money was not the only yard stick to measure success in the profession and whether if Mr. Intel were to be a beginner now he would be able to fend for himself and his immediate family. But it also occurred to Mr. Dove that in the Law School he was taught that to be successful in the profession, you need to work very hard, be patient and pray for good luck.

He finally concluded within his mind that he would learn good things only from Mr. Rayland though very few to point at while the numerous bad aspect of him would be discarded.

**

Mr. Dove later found on his table instruction from Mr. Rayland directing him to prepare a direct complaint of cheating to Chief Magistrate Court against Mr. Plop a client of the Chambers for failing to pay $2,000 professional fees for writing a letter to Mr. Plop's landlord who was threatening him with ejectment over his failure to pay $5,000 arrears of rent.

Mr. Plop a petroleum dealer had acquired so much money by diverting the fuel he got at regulated price from Government Depot to the black market at excessive profit. Unfortunately for him he failed to invest this cheap money wisely thinking the business would last for years. When the new democratic government took over and insisted on deregulating the oil business so that market forces would determine the price of petroleum products Mr. Plop's business crashed. It was so bad for him that within a period of one year he could not pay his house rent again.

His landlord then threatened to eject him from the house if he failed to pay $5,000 arrears of his rent. It was this landlord's threat that made Mr. Plop to consult Mr. Rayland to write his landlord to give him two months to pay the arrears of rent.

Mr. Rayland took Mr. Plop's brief, and he wrote his client's landlord to give him the said two months to pay the arrears of rent. Happily, the landlord accepted this offer. The client’s happiness was short-lived when he got a letter from Mr. Rayland asking for $2,000 professional fees for writing the letter.

Mr. Plop had appealed to Mr. Rayland to accept $500 as his fees for writing the letter telling him that if he had $2,000 in the first place he would have out rightly paid his landlord same as part payment of the arrears of rent and there would have been no need to consult him to write his landlord. However, Mr. Rayland would not have any of it. It is $2,000 and nothing less otherwise Mr. Plop would rot in jail for the offence of cheating as he strongly believed that failure to pay for service that had been rendered amounts to cheating.

Mr. Rayland instructed Mr. Dove to prepare a letter addressed to the Chief Magistrate in form of direct complaint. Mr. Dove was confused about the morality of the whole case. He could not understand why his principal could not even assist Mr. Plop with the letter to his landlord free of charge; after all he knew that when Mr. Plop was in good financial position, he was paying the Chambers good money for services rendered to him. Anyway, he had no option since his principal had instructed, he would make the direct complaint to the Chief Magistrate.

Mr. Dove was full of sympathy for Mr. Plop. He knew the game too well on this matter of direct complaint especially since this one was on a Friday. On receipt of the direct complaint, the Chief Magistrate would summon the suspect to the court and if he disputes the claim the matter would be referred to the police for investigation. The police after taking over the investigation would detain the suspect till the following Monday. However, if he is lucky and is able to negotiate for his bail he might be released and asked to come the following Monday for further investigation. Head or tail, the suspect would be in a deep mess over this case. Reluctantly Mr. Dove prepared the letter of direct complaint to the Chief Magistrate as directed by his principal detailing the offence committed by Mr. Plop against the Chambers and seeking the intervention of the Chief Magistrate so that justice could be done in the case.

On receipt of the letter, the Chief Magistrate summoned Mr. Plop to the court who after the complaint was read to him denied the claims. The police were invited to investigate the case. Mr. Plop due to his serious financial quagmire he could not even secure police bail and had to stay in police cell till the following Monday.

Mr. Dove on seeing the suffering Mr. Plop was going through over the case met with his principal to secure reprieve for him telling him about his past patronage and the need to understand his present financial situation. Mr. Rayland would not budge; Mr. Plop he said must pay the fee to regain his freedom otherwise he would go through the rigors of trial for his failure or inability to pay and that the case must continue to its logical conclusion.

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M r. Rayland was in deep discussion with Alhaji Musadu, a former estate officer of a Local Council in the fledging Capital City of the Country in his chambers.

As an estate officer, Musadu was responsible for signing land allocation papers in the Local Council but due to some dubious acts, he was sacked from his employment. His sack turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him. While he was in service, his duty inter-alia included making proposal for new layouts in the Local Council and if the proposal was accepted, it would be taken by the Council to the Minister who in most cases would approve the new Layout.

Once the layout was approved, Musadu would swing into action with the survey Department of the Local Council who would carve out a large expanse of land beside a village occupied by the indigenes. The plots in such layout would be allocated on an approved and agreed formula. The formula was well known to Musadu, and all the senior officials of the Local Council.

The Council Chairman would have 1%, the senior officials of the controlling Ministry would have 3%, the Chief of the local area where the layout was carved out would have 2%, external surveyors, 5%, other senior officials of the Local Council, 20%,. Musadu himself, 8%, the Minister's representatives 35% and members of the public 10% while the balance would be left for other contingencies.

The above formula had always been adhered to and all concerned were always satisfied and contented in the past. Many of such layouts were mapped out within the Local Councils and Musadu had sold his own portions at exorbitant prices to land speculators who in turn would later sell to hapless members of public who needed land to build for private or commercial purposes but who must never get direct allocation from the Council thereby slowing down the pace of development in the capital city and also pushing up the cost of renting or owning houses as well.

Alhaji Musadu had become so wealthy that his assets in cash and landed properties have put him in the circle of the very rich in the country. Indeed he was a billionaire. Musadu's visit to Mr. Rayland that afternoon had to do with the new layout he had just done in Bassa village in the Area council. While waiting for his lawyer, Musadu remembered how bitter he was after losing his job as the Estate officer of the Local Council and it was not until he met Mr. Nob the land speculator who sold the idea of becoming to the Local Council himself before he saw the great opportunity before him. He could initially not understand how he could turn himself to the Local Council himself until Mr. Nob gave him the full idea and strategies for the operation of the system he was trying to sell to him.

Mr. Nob had told Musadu the workings of his former office. 'Can you tell me the numbers of layout you have done since you assumed office? Mr. Nob asked him. I have lost count he replied, indeed we are very poor in record keeping, I am sure the Council itself may not have the accurate record of the layouts. Then you better cash in on the situation. You can carve out as many Layouts as you can, sign the allocation papers and business continued." The idea was not too attractive to Alh. Musadu at the beginning but he still gave it a try. However, to his amazement he made $2,000,000 from this first layout and it appeared so easy

At a stage the business boomed so much that some close friends of Musadu advised him to retain the serious a prominent Lawyer in his pay roll for the business and this made him to retain Mr. Rayland whom he confided in about his line of business and he was warmly received and accepted by the Lawyer.

Alh. Musadu', Mr. Rayland beamed with smile as he addressed his client, as long as the price is right, I will do all within my power to protect you from the long arm of the law. On each layout, I would be entitled to 30% of the plots which Mr. Nob, your friend would sell for me."

After negotiation, Mr. Rayland agreed to accept 20% of the plots as his fees while the external surveyor gets 10% of each layout. The business boomed for Mr. Rayland and Musadu. On several occasions Musadu had been arraigned in court for fraud over these layouts but had won as foregoing could not be proved and the Local Council had always failed to prove that the allocation papers were not signed when he was the Estate officer. The problem of double allocations of land with both signed by Musadu kept haunting land developers with so many of such cases pending in various courts. Musadu was not always a party to the cases and he always refused to testify for either of the litigants, the courts were always in a dilemma as to who to award the owner ship of such plots. The confused situation could not be resolved as the numerous allocation papers on a single plot would have same date, same signature, same land size, same plot number and same location.

*

The Land Management System was in such a terrible mess in the Center of Unity before Minister Mallam Rauf took over. The problem with land management was so bad that if urgent steps were not taken to redress the situation then, about ninety percent of cases that various courts in the Territory would be doing would be litigations on land ownership.

The Minister had boasted to the people that he was going to sanitize the land management and that land speculators and their collaborators in the Civil Service would be dealt a blow and that it would be better for them to brace up for another job or even be ready to serve jail term. And it was for this that Musadu had come to Mr. Rayland his lawyer to discuss the way out of this so that their multi million dollar business would not collapse.

After a long discussion on the issue between Mr. Rayland and his client, the former invited Mr. Dove a counsel in Chambers to study the ways to bog down the Minister if he made good his threats. Musadu had informed the two counsel that proving any case against him would not be easy as he could safely claim that all the allocations papers were signed when he was the estate officer and it was part of his duty to sign allocation papers more so that the date on them would confirm his assertion.

At the end of their meeting, they could not agree on the form that the strategy to check mate the Minister would take but they all agreed that the action of the Minister would determine their next line of action. They all concluded that when they get to the river they would know how to cross it.

Mr. Rayland was amused about the running of government in the Country. He could not understand why the Federal Capital City Administration would be waiting for allocation of funds from the Federation account to develop the City when proper management of land administration could even fetch money like petroleum. Individuals in government were allocating plots to themselves free and selling them at exorbitant prices to genuine developers who would never get direct allocation.

The Minister too had realized that if there was proper administration of land allocation and payment of appropriate fees, the Federal Capital Territory would not need money from the federation account to develop the Territory. The means of getting this done required ingenuity and wisdom. What is required was fixing the actual value price for each plot, ensuring payment of same and thereafter continue to ensure payment of reasonable ground rent and even impose tax on luxury apartments and commercial complexes as well as to ensure that the money so collected did not end up in private pockets. The new Minister had a clear focus as to what to do with the rottenness in land administration in his domain and did not mince words about how he was going to tackle it. He also came up with the idea of strict enforcement of the master plan which eventually became an ill wind that blew nobody any good.

The first group of victim of the enforcement of the master plan was those who built on the sewage line. This group of people had genuine land documents from the Land Registry, they have approved building plan and some of them were not even aware they were building on sewage line. They were victims of the corrupt officials of Land Department who allocated the plots to them in the first place.

The operation of the Land Department in the Capital City was bizarre. What obtained there could no longer be described as corruption. It was something worse. The officials of the department working hand in hand with top government officials and political appointees had used the allocation of plots of land to swindle the state.

The officials of the department would carve out a layout comprising of thousands of plots. They would use all kinds of fictitious names to allocate the plots to themselves, top government officials and political appointees paying between $50 to $80 official fees for these plots. Thereafter government funds would be utilized to provide infrastructures such as tarred and paved roads, electricity, pipe borne water, sewage line etc. Once the layout was fully serviced, these corrupt officials and their cronies would be selling the plots to those who need them for prices ranging from $500,000 to $5,000,000 making millions of dollars in the process.

Indeed plots of land in the Capital City have been turned to oil blocks and if not that these oil blocks were privately owned, the administration of the Capital City would not need to rely on money from the federation account to run the City.

*

The new Minister of the Capital Territory nicknamed Minister for Demolition had vowed to restore the master plan of the Capital City and to also demolish any building on the sewage line and the President had given him all the support for these. One of the victims, Mr. Kenneth had approached Mr. Dove over the imminent demolition of his Duplex which he had put all his life savings to build and lived therein with a family of four. Indeed he had just moved in barely one month when the notice of demolition of the property was served on him.

Mr. Dove, I know the Government can acquire my property especially for public purpose, all I am saying is that they should pay me adequate compensation before the demolition so that I can resettle my family Mr. Kenneth explained to his counsel. Mr. Kenneth replied Mr. Dove it is unfortunate you are a victim of the corrupt elements in the Land Registry, the Minister meant well and we will support him. The only thing I can do for you is to obtain injunction in court against the demolition until you are adequately compensated. The problem with land administration is like a cancer that requires surgical operation to save the patient. We should all cooperate with the Minister to ensure orderly development of the Capital City. The only help I can render to you is to get adequate compensation for you. I will be in court tomorrow for this purpose.

Mr. Dove eventually went to court to get injunction to restrain the Minister from demolishing the house of his client until adequate compensation was paid and to obtain order of mandamus to compel the minister to assess the compensation payable before the demolition.

However, the Minister who could not be every where at every time was not even aware of what was going on in court and to demonstrate his determination to demolish all illegal structures in the Capital City, ordered that Mr. Kenneth's house be demolished and in a flash this was done not withstanding the court's injunction. The issue was how the parties would agree on compensation payable to Mr. Kenneth when the demolition had been carried out before the evaluation.

Mr. Dove on learning that his client's property had been demolished despite the pending order of injunction proceeded to file application for contempt against the Minister.

The Bailiff attempted to serve the Minister personally with the motion for contempt but was unable to effect personal service on the Minister and instead served the Legal Department of the Minister's office. The motion eventually came up for hearing in court. Many Journalists were in court eager to know whether the Minister would be committed to prison for contempt. Everyone knew that the Minister could no longer purge himself of the contempt as the house in question had been demolished on his order.

The motion for contempt was called and Mr. Dove as counsel to Mr. Kenneth announced his appearance while a principal state counsel announced appearance for the Minister. The minister was absent. My Lord, Mr. Dove addressed the court, the absence of the contemnor before this court shows the low regard he holds this court; his absence today is in itself a contempt of court. The present case is quasi criminal and it is mandatory for the Minister, I mean the contemnor to be present before my lord today. My Lord, nobody is above the law in this Country and in the circumstance we shall be compelled to ask that bench warrant be issued against the contemnor to compel his presence in court at the next sitting.

My Lord, the principal state counsel countered "I am surprised to hear my learned friend applying for bench warrant against my client. The application is premature as the contemnor has not even been served. The law provides that this type of motion should be served personally on the Respondent but this has not been done. The Bailiff of this court served the Legal Department and we have not been able to bring this to the notice of the Minister. He is a very busy person and for the past ten days he has been out of the Ministry