I could feel my lungs contracting beneath my skin and my legs shaking while I jumped up from my bed and quickly reached out for the remote control of my Air Conditioner. Up NEPA I whispered under my breath amidst the anxiety that sent me to bed hungry by 7 pm last night. I reached under my pillow for my phone and took a quick glance at my clock and it was 03:30 am. Wow! Could that be my Angels speaking or what?
I tried to refresh my memory over the events of the previous day that sent me to bed very early; when it dawned on me that my thoughts were useless as I was wide awake to the D-Day. Oh dear; I gasped! I stood up and reached out for one of my white camisoles, white collarette, my favourite black suit and one of my black pencil skirts where I neatly arrange my “D-Law” attires in my wardrobe. I also reached out for my wig and gown on my suit jacket hanger across the room and started ironing them all immediately before NEPA strikes again.
I brought down my “black flat pump shoes” amidst the anxiety that was starting to make my palm sweat and sluggishly started brushing with soapy water while my mind went back to the events of yesterday. I could hear the echoes of Oga’s voice saying “Anabel, I am confident you can do this, your researches and drafts are good. I need to see my Doctor urgently by 7 am in the morning. It’s just for “mention”. Somehow, I echoed out “Yeah sure Sir, it was just for mention”. If all these set up wasn’t my village people, I wonder who else.
I used my shoe rag to wipe my “pumps”, and also wiped the little sweat that was trying to form on my forehead as I had been busy doing this and that since I put off my Air Conditioner by 03:30 am. I reached for my phone again and it was 04:40 am! This time; you couldn’t tell me nothing, the Angels were speaking! I made for the bathroom and brushed my teeth and took a shower. While I was gently applying my lotion, it hit me below (hunger punches). I raced to the kitchen to check on “Nwanyi Nkanu’s Abacha” I bought on my way home the previous night that I didn’t get to eat last night and sadly it was soured already.
I fixed a cup of tea for myself and dragged out Oga’s file. I stared up and down from the Name of the Court, to the suit number, to the parties to the suit, all the way down to the Endorsement section and sighed. I quickly dressed up and sat down for quiet morning devotion. A knock on my door woke me as I had fallen asleep again while trying to do the morning devotion. I checked my phone clock and it was 05:50 am. These cannot be coincidences! I reached for the door and it was my new neighbour leaving her spare key with me. She was travelling to Lagos to see her Fiancé. Safe journey I said to her with a warm smile as I clenched the cold metal she put inside my palm a little more tightly.
I dropped some cologne on my body and dashed into the streets 30mins plus later. I got to the Court premises by 07:30 am. Our matter was to be in “Court 4” according to Oga. So I headed for Court 4. I sat somewhere outside while I tried to announce my appearance in my head severally (With most humility my Lord…, With utmost humility my Lord…, May it please this Honourable Court…, Respectfully my Lord…, May it please your Lordship… etc). Oh Lord! Must I sound that way? Why can’t I just say “Good morning” and go straight to the wahala that is causing fight? Mtscheeeww…!
Good morning sister, a dark plump man who should be in his mid forties echoed from behind me. Good morning Sir, I replied! I am the Registrar of this Court, are you a counsel? In my head I was like, even if this wig and gown on my hands are not visible, my black and white is. Why increase my anxiety? I stared at him for long and muttered “yes I am”. Small girl like you? He screamed! Haaa, I said in my mind. What kind of embarrassment is this? I just kept staring at him motionless. My name is “Okeosisisi”. I am very popular here. I help new lawyers a lot, I know you are new because your face is not familiar. This place is not your law school o. But I like you and will help you smallie new counsel; if for any reason you need me. I was still motionless, amidst the small fury in my heart. Thank you for the offer Mr. Okeosisis I muttered and walked away.
COURT…! We all rose and bowed our heads while the judge took his seat. It was 10:40 am, when he walked in. We had all gotten tired of waiting. But what could anyone do? He is the Court “LORD”; so we wait! Mr. Okeosisisi stood and started calling out cases in the order of seniority. Sadly, the opposing Counsel was just four (4) years my senior, so we had to wait! Our case was finally called by 03:00 pm when the judge came back from recess.
The opposing Counsel stood up and announced his appearance for the Plaintiff. Out of nowhere; the Almighty “confidence” flooded my spirit while I stood. I chose “May it please this Honourable Court, My name is Amalachukwu J Anebelundu Esq., I humbly appear for the Defendant”. Can you spell your Surname Counsel, the judge said. A-N-E-B-E-L-U-N-D-U… I said. That’s all right he said and I sat down. Wow; I did it! I looked through the window to see if the sky came down, nope it didn’t. The Counsel on the other end got on his feet again and said, “My Lord, this case is for mention”. The Judge then asked, are the parties in Court? The Plaintiff stood up and said his Client was in Court. The judge asked if my client was in court. I stood up and said “No, my Lord, the Defendant will be here on the next adjourned date Sir”. The judge said all right; so what date are you people proposing? The Plaintiff’s Counsel chose a date and I concurred and the matter was adjourned! Just like that? I took a deep breath and took off!
I flagged down a taxi and headed straight for “Nwanyi Nkanu’s” joint. I got two plates of “Abacha ndi Enugu State” and went home straight!
When I stood up around 1 am the next day to use the bathroom, I stood and stared at my wall mirror for long and whispered “Amalachukwu, you did it…”! I honestly was very proud of that small but MIGHTY appearance. That was my official welcome to the “litigation world”! It’s not that hard you know. First times however are always FIRST TIMES IN EVERYTHING IN LIFE!