My father's driver taught me more law than my professors ever did

1996. I was a magistrate clerk in Ikeja, young and full of grammar. I was preparing a case file for a land matter in Agidingbi, and I was rushing, because my oga at the time did not like to be kept waiting.

Baba Tunde was the court driver. He had been driving judges for 22 years. He looked at the file on my desk and said, "Oga Joe, you didn't sign page four." I told him not to worry, that it was just a formality. He said, "No. I have seen a case dismissed because of one missing signature. Sign am."

I signed it. Weeks later, the case came up and the other lawyer tried to challenge the file. The judge checked it, saw everything was in order, and moved on. I never told Baba Tunde thank you. He died in 2011. I still think about that day every time I sign a document. The law is not just in the books. Sometimes it is sitting in the driver's seat.