My name is Amalachukwu J Anebelundu Esq. I was called to the Nigerian Bar on the 14th of February, 2012. Was it a happy day for me? Errmmmm, it was an anxiety filled day, extremely exhaustive day and a happy day for me!
I woke up by 3am on my call to bar day and didn’t sleep again till 12am the next day.
Anxiety wanted to kill me. It was like a wedding day for me. After all those years of hardwork? May nothing ruin that day for me was all I had in mind.
The highlight of my day was seeing the pride in my father’s face upstairs at the audience section. Oh how I love that man! You could see in his face that he badly wanted to scream out “THAT’S MY BELOVED DAUGHTER, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED”. LOL…
All my colleagues were full of smile and pride… Everyone’s suit was shining bright! We just couldn’t wait to take the damn “Oath” and become complete “Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria”!
Then came the occasion… Oh Lord! A long procedure that seemed to never end…lol
There was dead silence as we watched the body of benchers and Supreme Court justices match in. The mace was high up in the sky in the Clerk’s hands while we the new aspirants couldn’t wait to be asked to wear our wigs and gowns. Oh that “address” while we stood? It is well!
Did I mention that hunger wanted to kill us? Oh dear! But we dare not complain! After all we signed up for it!
The hour finally came nonetheless and we were asked to wear our Almighty wig and gown. The feeling was “surreal”! We were no longer spectators of the real “THE LAWS”! We were now one of them! We were lost in between jumping up or maintaining decorum! Oh well, we had to maintain decorum before they will collect it back ooo… lol
Ahnnnn my Daddy’s face up there when my name was called for my handshake and certificate collection? Just imagine and exhale because I cannot explain… lol
Our legs could barely carry us while we walked to the Supreme Court Complex for enrollment as LEGAL PRACTITIONERS because hunger had finished us!
Next was picture time! A stage that consumed almost 2hrs alone! Yes you read right! Everybody wanted to take a photo with everybody, plus well wishers!
Next was reception time! You see this part, I was tired the whole time! I was just looking for a way to dodge everybody and go and rest. Two people were my biggest highlight on that day “My sweet Dad (Late Chief Peter Obiesili Anebelundu) and my bestie Uncle (Mr. Leonard Bosah). Both of them “cruised” me around Abuja that night and made sure they never held me accountable for anything called manners because in their words “they were super proud of me”.
We retired by 11:00pm that day. I spent another 1hr before sleep called in front of the mirror asking myself “Amalachukwu, na you be this”?
All in all, I thank God Almighty for everything! I am a happy lawyer and I love my profession!