To Serve in Truth & Justice

On a beautiful autumn day yet cold enough for an overcoat but very dry, I was registered at Lincoln’s Inn, London. Walking through Lincoln’s Inn field on the way back to Holborn Tube station, an incidence which I have always considered to be a good omen occurred. I ran into my Uncle Professor Ade Elebute. I proudly informed him that I was going to study Law and had just been registered as a member at the honourable society of Lincoln’s Inn. My uncle in turn informed me that he was on his way to the Royal College of Surgeons, facing Lincoln’s Inn fields. I felt really buoyed to share my news with a member of the family whom I had not seen for about five years or more. It was as if I wanted a stamp of approval and more than that, I’d hoped that he would spread the news that “small” me was about to embark on a very important journey all by myself after all the cosseting, protection and thorough pampering which had hitherto been lavished on me.

My Headmistress at The Mount School had always warned that I was too playful and restless to manage further studies. She was shocked when I went to inform her after my call to the Bar less than three years after I left the Mount. Luckily I took my Call Certificate as physical evidence or she would never have believed me. Most people felt that I was too young coupled with my restlessness to even contemplate professional studies.

In retrospect, I wonder if it was really the importance of the place of Astronomy in our lives that out-smarted all predictions. Born on October 10, under the sign of the Balance (the scales of Justice, Libra), the Law is the first recommended profession followed by Diplomacy. I did become a diplomat for a short while many years later but the details are for a later chapter.

Law studies were a full time occupation for me unlike for most people at that time who had to work at one or two jobs to finance their education. My daily routine became studying at the library, attending lectures, studying at home. I only read at night at home when examinations were near. I have always been an early riser and an early to bed person. I was usually at the library door at least ten minutes before the opening time. I also closed with the staff at 5.30 pm.

During this time, I interacted with many students from India, Ghana, Caribbean, Nigeria and of course Great Britain. I met friendship and love with all and sundry but the Nigerians looked at me as an oddity because of my peculiar English school girl ways and in any case, I was so many years younger than a majority of them whom I could not convince that I was a complete Nigerian girl in every aspect. Even when I told them my name Aderinsola Alatishe (as I then was), some of the Nigerians would smile and the bolder ones would say that they were quite familiar with my surname and indeed had heard of my father but I was in no way like what I claimed to be, they would just humour me and pass on. Eventually many became doting admirers as if I were a pet child on the account of my youthfulness.

Eventually two of my uncles, Chief Bayo Osipitan and Alhaji (Chief) Wahab Osinusi became constant visitors to Lincoln’s Inn and their familiarity with me convinced all and sundry that here indeed was a full blooded ljebu girl whom English education had transformed into a black English girl.

I had no distraction at all apart from going out shopping or the cinemas or to watch plays. I didn’t have to work for my keep or to buy my educational supplies or Law books. I had a generous allowance from home and all I had to do was to read and read. I did my best in this area and between October 1960 and December 1962, I had completed the Bar examinations but had only kept ten Dining Terms. Since the facility was available to me, I requested for exemption from the last two terms (12 Dining Terms were normally kept before Call to the Bar). The exemption was granted and on the 5th February 1963, I was called to the Bar at the Lincoln’s Inn with about forty other students. On call night, youth again played in my favour, I was called upon to respond to the toast of the New Barristers and I am sure that night was one of the star moments of my life, an a – ha moment as its now popularly said.

There were other Nigerian students in that group and I remember very well Kenneth Oladipo Longe because we are firm friends till now. I was so thrilled that Hairat Aderinsola Alatishe, the 6th daughter of Alhaji Jinadu Alaba Alatishe, produce buyer of 106 Alapo Street Ijebu Ode and just 21 years and four months old had made a record for that time! Surely Mama Hairat would be dancing in her grave.

Just about that time, Nigerian Law School had been set up and in order to enroll to practice in Nigeria, a three months course was essential. I was never in doubt that I wanted to practice Law, as a private legal practitioner appearing in the courts assisting others and doing all the other good works.