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There was a sensational murder trial in the seventies. It involved Jimoh Isola a.k.a. Ejigbadero. He was found guilty of the murder of Raji Oba. The case even dragged on to the supreme court but the accused was also found guilty there.
In one of the courts, the accused, maybe because of his not understanding legalese or his being an informed illiterate was said to have asked his team of lawyers, ‘Emi l’adajo wi?. That is, ‘What did the judge say?’
That was after the judge was said to have pronounced him guilty and subsequently sentenced him to the gallows!
I’m using this story to buttress what all educated people ought to know.
Ignorance is no excuse in law.
Yes, it is true that many of us are law breakers at one level or the other. Even some people who break the monthly environmental sanitation laws are dealt with by mobile courts. And who are those unfortunate ones who get tried by the mobile courts?
You and I!
The fact that some smart alecs have been successful in the art and act of law breaking doesn’t mean we should not enforce the laws of the land. If we refuse to, then our society will go back to the Hobbesian state of nature, as if it hasn’t!
That means chaos!
It’s even good Mrs Adeosun is conversant with the U.K. She herself knows that, no matter how useful a public officer is, once they break the law, they have to go. In any case, the opposition will even make their stay in office impossible.
Earlier this year, a British Lord resigned because he was late to a debate. Some years ago, a minister resigned over a discovery that a personal staff of his did not have clean immigration papers.
So, what are we saying?
By the way, is there any law that forbids a National Youth Corps member from being a minister? I asked the question simply because I don’t know!
Now, we have been instructed to look for those who procured the certificate for Mrs Adeosun. When we finally find them, will they face the wrath of law while Mrs Adeosun is left free and told to commit no more sins?
That is very logical, ain’t it?
Agbepo l’aja o jale!
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