by Austin EMADUKU
I have been reading and enjoying legal arguments concerning the decision of an Abuja Federal High Court that sacked the Governor of Ebonyi State and his Deputy. I always enjoy reading such legal fireworks on social mediaa anytimelandmark judgements are delivered.
The ones that are often more disputed are what can be termed “the political judgements” and like everything political, most of these legal arguments, even from a layman point of view, can be seen to be emotitive, but quite a good number are very cerebral and makes for interesting reading.
You will not often find lawyers file out in large numbers to offer pro-bono legal arguments – for or against – when the courts decide on crucial fundamental human rights issues that affect the common man, except where such cases have underlying political undertones. That is a matter for another day and perhaps why one should study law.
Back to my love for the law. Apart from my natural inclination towards everything fair and equitable, my interest in law was triggered by my study of Jurisprudence or the Philosophy of Law – that “branch of philosophy that examines the nature of law and law’s relationship to other systems of norms, especially ethics and political philosophy” – as a full session core course during my undergraduate days as a student of philosophy. It was additional delight to find the law intristicly interwoven with logic, another favourite core course. From Socrates to Jeremy Bentham to Lord Dennings and to Justice Oputa of blessed memory, the law tasks and stimulates the intellect.
Logic as a tool of inquiry thrills me. Deductive reasoning is wao. It is for this reason that I enjoy reading legal arguments. I especially love the way Jugdes meticulously distill arguments presented by parties in a case to arrive at their judgements. The way and manner legal opinions are researched and logically derived, thrills me.
The judge is not just an interpreter of the law but he is also a logician, moralist, lawmaker and philosopher combined. What about lawyers that regale you with wit and intellect?
The law is in indeed ERUDITE!
Now what was it that set me on the path of day dreaming law? It is the legal opinion ofJibril Sam Okutepa SAN in the present matter – particularly the following excerpts: “Clearly from the reading of the entire Nigerian Constitution, it is submitted with respect, that while one must celebrate the jurisprudential logic and reasoning in the judgement under review, which is thought provoking and accords with moral demands to see that our democracy is well nurtured and follow best international practices and standards, such logic and reasoning cannot be situated within any known cannons of interpretation.”
Alas! The law is an ass but it is a sweet ass to ride.
Austin EMADUKU wrote from Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
