Dilemma Of Omotosho J. : Reminds Me Of ” Ìdaamu Paadi Mikailu”..!!!
By SIR OLUSEGUN LANRE-ÌYÀNDÁ
Observing the ” JUDGMENT DAY” proceedings in the IPOB LEADER’s trial on Thursday ,20th November,2025,brought to my mind,the UNENVIABLE DILEMMA of a Presiding Judge in matters like this.
To let you know, I’VE NEVER BEEN A FAN OR ADMIRER of Justice Ọmọ́tọ́shọ́ either from his days in the Ogun State, Nigeria Ministry of Justice where we were colleagues before his elevation to the Federal High Court Bench or when he was elevated to the Bench for REASONS best kept private BUT I sympathise with him from the day he ELECTED to sit over this matter after SOME JUDGES before him, recused themselves from the matter.
How I wished he’d ALSO recused himself from the matter BUT I’M NOT SURPRISED he sat on the matter knowing the kind of person he is. In any case, SOMEONE MUST ” Bell the cat” as he did till Thursday 20th November,2025.
To be candid and be fair to ỌMỌ́TỌ́SHỌ́, he must’ve been in the state of mind like ” PÁÀDÌ MIKAILU” in the satirical but classic play written by the revered late ADÉBÁYỌ̀ FÁLÉTÍ in the 1980s which PORTRAYED the CONFUSION and AGITATION faced by a Catholic priest and elder statesman, whose tasks demanded subtlety, and tact especially when operating from a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society like Nigeria. For the ” PÁÀDÌ” in that Very intriguing drama,the DILEMMA,therefore CALLED for a great ingenuity by which he MUST NOT divulge the confession of a repentant member of his congregation, but MUST also ENSURE the OBEDIENCE to, and the MAINTENANCE of the social order in his society.
As I followed the proceedings,I didn’t envy ỌMỌ́TỌ́SHỌ́ J. but pitied him for BEING In THIS AVOIDABLE DILEMMA THRUST UPON HIM by present circumstances.
SINCE THE DELIVERY OF THE JUDGMENT,many have taken sides with the Defendant{ KANU},the Prosecution { LED BY AWÓMỌ̀LỌ̀,SAN} and the Judge from their prisms of subjectivity, JUST AS I’M DOING NOW…!!!
I should say,in my opinion, with due respect and in fairness to ỌMỌ́TỌ́SHỌ́,J. that it’d be NAIVE for anyone to EXPECT anything CONTRARY to the CONCLUSION reached by the Court in this matter for the following reasons:
- KANU’S intransigence, bullheadedness and obstinacy from the onset to the end of the matter only led credence to the kind of character he’s been labelled to be.This may NOT be accurate but that’s the impression CREATED by him.
- The EVIDENCE led by the Prosecution which were MOT REBUTTED by Kanu and his Lawyers/Consultants would leave no JUDGE with no choice BUT to reach the CONCLUSION as presented by ỌMỌ́TỌ́SHỌ́.J.
- The COSTLY mistake made by KANU in DISPENSING with the services of his DEFENCE COUNSEL was nothing different from SHOOTING ONESELF IN THE FOOT.
Now, the Judge in my opinion OSCILLATED between JUDICIAL and POLITICAL POSTURINGS/SETTLEMENT in pronouncing that KANU was sentenced to LIFE IMPRISONMENT instead of being given a DEATH SENTENCE as contained in the relevant Law and that he should be KEPT in” PROTECTIVE CUSTODY” INSTEAD of the regular Prison { they call it “CORRECTIONAL FACILITY”}…!!! The Judge hinged his decision, amongst others,on the HOLY BIBLE which advocates MERCY, ” LENIENCY” AND ” COMPASSION ‘… UHMMMMMMM..!!!
SOME have argued that the Judge NEEDN’T have quoted the HOLY BIBLE because the matter had NOTHING to do with RELIGION but “POLITICAL persecution”.my answer to this IS : YHE BIBLE IS THE “BOOK OF THE LAW” as GOD told JOSHUA. In addition,the Bible was written as contained in ROMANS 15: 4 “…… FOR OUR INSTRUCTION,…” , THEREFORE ỌMỌ́TỌ́SHỌ́,J. DID NOT miss it by referring to the HOLY SCRIPTURES.
If YOU CARED to know,THE BIBLE HAS SUCH UNIVERSAL APPLICATIONS that EVEN those in the “ÒGBÓNI CULT” , THE FREEMASONS,AND THOSE IN THE COVENS OF NEGATIVE PRINCIPALITY AND POWERS USE IT AS MAY BE CONVENIENT TO THEM..!!!
IT’S ANOTHER, matter though, IF EVERYONE WHO QUOTES the BIBLE lives by the HOLY TENETS outside of THEIR QUOTATIONS. AFTERALL,the DEVILS TOO BELIEVE AND TREMBLE {JAMES 2:19} SORRY ONE OF THE JUDGE’S NAME IS ” James”; AGAIN,NO PUN…!!!
ANYONE CAN QUOTE THE BIBLE TO ESCAPE A TIGHT SITUATION OR TO JUSTIFY ANY BEHAVIOUR… !!!! Any wonder “SATAN THE DEVIL” quoted the Bible CORRECTLY when he was TEMPTING our Lord Jesus Christ.
Anyway, that’s for another day..!!!
THE WAY OUT: Now that the winding TEN YEARS trial has ENDED as it did, what IS THE WAY OUT?
In my opinion,any appeal to a higher Court will NOT change anything.It will ONLY affirm what’s done at the Lower Court GIVEN THE TRAJECTORIES of the trial BUT the political class as led by Bọ́lá Ahmed Tinubu {“BAT”} can CHANGE the narrative by handing KANU CLEMENCY through the PREROGATIVE OF MERCY route as DONE to some CONVICTED CRIMINALS in the recent past.This way “,BAT” would,IN MY OPINION, put an end to this matter and add another “POLITICAL STAR” to his ratings ESPECIALLY in the South Eastern Nigeria.
By the way,if I KNEW “BAT” very well,he might’ve well been WAITING for this OUTCOME,so he might SCORE a POLITICAL GOAL by playing this “ACE” of CLEMENCY in this political chess game. And if he would live true to the acronym ” BAT” with which an animal bears the same name which animal while DANGLING UPSIDE DOWN,is INDISTINGUISHABLE from a BIRD,RAT OR WHATEVER but FLIES ALL THE SAME,Our own BAT can “fly” by PARDONING KANU in this ever unfolding political game AND IT’D BE A BETTER GAIN FOR HIM THAN THE DECAMPMENT OF DIRECTIONLESS politicians.
Meanwhile,let KANU enjoy his “PROTECTIVE CUSTODY” till his “WORD” would come to be summoned for FREEDOM.
AS for ỌMỌ́TỌ́SHỌ́,J. I JUST HOPE HE’D BE ABLE TO SLEEP AND DREAM WELL AFTER “THIS CUP” OF “KANUGATE” HAS PASSED(?) OVER HIM. I JUST HOPE SO..!!! BUT ONE THING IS SURE, WHEN THIS EVENT IS CHRONICLED IN THE FUTURE,HIS NAME WILL EVER RING A BELL LIKE HIS SENIOR AND LATE COLLEAGUE, ṢÓWẸ̀MÍMỌ́,J. WHOSE HANDS WERE ” TIED” DURING THE TRIAL OF THE LATE SAGE: ỌBÁFẸ́MI AWỌ́LỌ́WỌ̀…!!!
IT’S A GLORIOUS SEASON FOR US ALL IN NIGERIA….!!!
©_2025-SirOlusegunLanreÌyàndá
I AM SIR OLUSEGUN LANRE-ÌYÀNDÁ: CORPORATE LAWYER,LEADERSHIP, GOVERNANCE, MARRIAGE AND YOUTH COUNSELLOR/ CONSULTANT AND THERAPIST.
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