I wasn’t even supposed to be in court today.
Three minutes before I arrived, I was informed that my matter wasn’t listed in the cause list, the registrar had given me a wrong date. Ordinarily, I would have turned back to the office, but something in me insisted on going into the courtroom.
Nothing prepared me for what I saw just ten minutes later.
A young girl in her early 20s walked in, holding her one month old baby, dressed in prison uniform.
I gently asked her what had happened. She told me she had put to bed inside the prison barely a month ago. She had been arrested in April for a misdemeanor, while pregnant and had remained in custody since then. She was also standing trial without a lawyer.
When her case was called, I immediately rose and announced appearance for her.
The complainant was not in court.
The prosecutor was present today, but not ready to proceed.
They had not been attending court for several adjournments.
So I urged the court to strike out the matter and acquit the defendant, relying on the relevant provisions of the ACJL Lagos and the applicable case law.
Your Honour, Mrs. A. K. Dosunmu Uthman, struck out the charge, discharged and acquitted her and the entire courtroom erupted in applause.
John Mary, young mother who walked in wearing prison clothes walked out a free woman.
I left the courtroom smiling, deeply convinced that God directed my steps today.
Ogoke Arinze Alex
