The day I had to rule against my own uncle in court

This happened about 15 years ago when I was still a young magistrate in Ikeja. A landlord-tenant dispute came before me. Routine case. Landlord wanted eviction, tenant claimed harassment. I was reading through the file and I saw the landlord's name. Uncle Chinedu. My mother's younger brother. The same man who paid my WAEC fees when my father's salary was delayed.

My heart sank. I wanted to recuse myself. But the law says a magistrate must not abandon a case without proper grounds. I called my uncle to my chambers. I said, Uncle, this case is before me. I can step down if you want. He laughed. He said, Joe, you are my blood. You know what is right. Give me my judgment.

But the tenant had evidence. Receipts. Witnesses. My uncle had collected rent for two years and then claimed the tenant owed him. The tenant was a petty trader with four children. I looked at the law. Section something of the Tenancy Law says once you collect rent and issue receipt, you acknowledge tenancy. You cannot turn around and say the person is a trespasser.

I ruled against my uncle. I gave the tenant six months to vacate and ordered my uncle to refund the illegal rent. My uncle stood up in court and said, You are dead to me. He walked out. My mother cried for weeks. Family gatherings became awkward. Some relatives said I had no shame. Others said I did well.

To this day, my uncle and I have not fully reconciled. We greet. We attend the same Christmas parties. But something broke that day. The thing is, I would do it again. The law is not a respecter of persons. If I bend it for my uncle today, tomorrow I will bend it for a stranger. And then what is the point of the law?